A survey of patterns and sources of stress among medical and nursing staff in an intensive care unit setting

This paper describes the process and outcome of a survey of stress among staff in an intensive care unit setting. It outlines the processes deemed necessary to ensure perceived and objective confidentiality of individual responses to the survey. Data were collected on levels, patterns and sources of stress amongst medical and nursing staff. Relationships between levels of state anxiety, psychological distress and range of stressors were examined. There was evidence of a high incidence of self-reported psychological distress. This was not accounted for solely by transient state anxiety. Data suggested that such problems were probably more frequent among staff with less ICU experience, although present in all staff groups. Interesting differences were detected between medical and nursing staff with respect to the types of stressors which produced most stress. The value of such studies in auditing occupational stress and identifying staff support systems is discussed.