Exploring the Relationship Between Job Stress and Allergic Rhinitis among Nurses Caring for COVID-19 Patients

Background and aims: Allergic rhinitis is a debilitating disease which may lead to impaired quality of life and can be related to psychological stress in nurses caring for COVID-19. This study examined the relationship between job stress and allergic rhinitis in nurses caring for COVID-19 patients in educational centers affiliated to Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. Methods: This descriptive-analytical research was conducted on 230 hospital nurses caring for COVID-19 patients in the city of Ahvaz in 2021. Patient recruitment was done using stratified random sampling method. The data collection tools included a demographic questionnaire, the Score for Allergic Rhinitis (SFAR), and the Expanded Nursing Stress Scale (ENSS). Results: This study showed that the mean occupational stress score of the nurses caring for COVID-19 was 96.017±35.946, which indicates a low level of occupational stress among them. The mean allergic rhinitis score of the nurses under study was 6.13±3.484, and its prevalence among nurses was 46.01%. A significant correlation was observed between nursing occupational stress and allergic rhinitis among nurses caring for COVID-19 (P=0.019 and r=0.154). Conclusion: Increasing awareness of the link between job stress and allergic rhinitis among health professionals is a top priority. Further research into any causal relationship between job stress and allergic rhinitis, as well as preventative public health plans for decreasing job stress in nurses, is needed.