Perceived influence of work- related stress on caring behaviour and quality of life of nurses in UNIOSUN teaching hospital, Osogbo Osun state

Abstract

Background: Nurses are the bedrock of the healthcare system and take on responsibilities within their jurisdiction and beyond their job description, which contributes to high level of stress among them. Objective: This study was carried out to assess the influence of workplace-related stress on caring behaviour and quality of life of nurses in UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Osun State. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional research design with convenience sampling technique was used. Two hundred and six participants were used for the study. Data were collected using adapted questionnaire from previous study and WHO-BREF. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics of frequency and percentage. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to established relationship between workplace-related stress, caring behavior and quality of life among nurses. Results: Findings from the study showed high level 108(52.4%) of stress from workplace due to excessive workload 96(46.6%), stress from dying or dead patients 97(47.1%) and uncertainty concerning patients' treatment 132(64.1%). Positive caring behavior 134(65.1%) and low quality of life 79(38.5%) were observed. A strong positive correlation exist between prevalence of workplace related stress (r=0.092; P-value=0.018) and caring behavior of nurses, also between prevalence of workplace-related stress and quality of life of nurses (r=0.037; P-value=0.059). Conclusion: Nurses, despite their level of stress can still care for their patients effectively even if their quality of life is affected, however, it is recommended that nurses' workforce should be increased so as to reduce the workload of nurses and improve nurses' quality of life.