Evaluation of Work Place Stress in Health University Workers: A Study from Rural India

BACKGROUND: Healthcare providers being over-worked and under staffed are prone to poor mental health. Unhealthy work place compounds it further. AIMS: This study was aimed at to assess the mental health status of a medical university employee with special reference to work place stressors. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was designed and carried out at a Rural Health University. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Both the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ)-12 and Holmes–Rahe Scale were used to evaluate 406 participants. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Multivariate analysis, correlation, and ANOVA by SPSS 11.0. RESULTS: The minimum age of the participant was 19 years and the maximum 64 years, with an average age at 35.09 years. On the GHQ scale 239(58.9%) recorded psychiatric morbidity out of which 201(49.5%) had moderate and 38(9.3%) severe morbidity. Doctors were the highest stressed group (P ≤ 0.04). Prominent work environmental stressors were poor departmental reorganization, lack of cohesiveness in department, difficult superiors and juniors (P ≤ 0.001, Pearson correlation). Stressors associated with work organization and work nature were: noninvolvement in departmental decision making and lack of proper feedback; along with; work load, lack of clarity in job, and a erratic work schedule (P ≤ 0.001 on Pearson correlation). Harassment, favoritism, discrimination, and lack of self-expression (P ≤ 0.003) were other factors responsible for work dissatisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: A high stress level was detected in the study population. The principal stressors were work environment related. Poor work culture was found to lead to job dissatisfaction among majority.