Key result
Perceived stress statistically mediated the association between alarm fatigue and job burnout among intensive care unit nurses (β = 0.10, p = 0.015).
Why the study?
Alarm fatigue in ICUs is associated with increased nurse stress and burnout, but the mechanisms underlying these associations remain underexplored.
Does perceived stress mediate the association between alarm fatigue and job burnout in intensive care unit nurses?
Cross-Sectional (n=110)
Yes
Does perceived stress mediate the association between alarm fatigue and job burnout in intensive care unit nurses?
Effect estimate: β = 0.10
p-value: p=0.015
Perceived stress mediates the relationship between alarm fatigue and job burnout among ICU nurses, suggesting that stress reduction interventions may help mitigate burnout.
May link alarm fatigue to burnout via stress among ICU nurses; hypothesis-generating and requires longitudinal confirmation before practice change.
Introduction: Alarm fatigue in intensive care units is associated with increased nurse stress and burnout; however, the mechanism underlying these associations remains underexplored. This study aimed to assess alarm fatigue, perceived stress, and job burnout levels among intensive care unit nurses; identify factors associated with burnout; and test the statistical mediating role of perceived stress in the association between alarm fatigue and burnout. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in October 2024, with nurses recruited via convenience sampling from ICUs at hospitals affiliated with Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran. Data were collected using the Alarm Fatigue Questionnaire, the Perceived Stress Scale, and the Persian Copenhagen Burnout Inventory. Multiple linear regression and path analysis were used for data analysis. The study adhered to established reporting guidelines for observational studies. Results: A total of 110 intensive care unit nurses participated. Participants reported high alarm fatigue (mean = 36.57, SD = 3.50), high perceived stress (mean = 38.35, SD = 7.02), and moderate job burnout (mean = 54.18, SD = 15.12). Regression analysis showed that shift type (β = -0.341, p = 0.020), perceived stress (β = 0.209, p = 0.038), and alarm fatigue (β = 0.235, p = 0.013) were significant predictors of burnout, explaining 36.5% of the variance. Path analysis demonstrated that perceived stress statistically mediated the association between alarm fatigue and burnout (β = 0.10, p = 0.015). Conclusion: In this cross-sectional sample, perceived stress statistically mediated the association between alarm fatigue and burnout in intensive care unit nurses. These findings suggest that interventions targeting stress reduction may potentially attenuate alarm fatigue-related burnout, though longitudinal studies are needed to confirm directionality. Nursing administrators should prioritize integrated strategies for managing alarms and stress to improve nurse well-being.
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Sarmadi et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Job burnout in ICU nurses (n=110). Alarm fatigue was evaluated on Job burnout (β = 0.10, p=0.015). Perceived stress statistically mediated the association between alarm fatigue and job burnout among intensive care unit nurses (β = 0.10, p = 0.015).
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