Stress among Healthcare Workers in a Tertiary Care Hospital in South India – A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract Background: Healthcare workers form the backbone of any functioning healthcare system. This group includes not only the professionals but also the support healthcare workers. Stress among the latter can significantly impact the quality of care provided to the patients. Therefore, it is essential to recognize the level of stress experienced by support healthcare workers, along with the factors that contribute to it within healthcare facilities. Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the level of stress and its determinants among the support healthcare workers in a tertiary care hospital and to determine the impact of stress on their health. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted over a period of 3 months, from October to December 2023, among three categories of support healthcare workers. The level of stress was measured using the Perceived Stress Scale-10. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, habits, and health problems were collected using a pre-structured questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software. Results: The prevalence of low, moderate, and high perceived stress was 19.8%, 74.6%, and 5.6%, respectively. The participants with age 30 years and below have 96% less chances of having stress than compared to the participants above 30 years old (odds ratio OR: 0.04 0.012–0.132, P < 0.001). The participants who skip breakfast have 5.11 times higher odds of having stress compared to the participants who eat breakfast (OR: 5.11 1.521–17.146, P = 0.008). Conclusion: Around three-fourth of the participants perceive a moderate level of stress. Extending stress management programs to the support healthcare workers helps in the effective delivery of health care to the patients.