Psychosocial factors and mental work load: a reality perceived by nurses in intensive care units

Authors

  • Paula Ceballos-Vásquez Universidad de Concepción; Departamento de Enfermería
  • Gladys Rolo-González Universidad de la Laguna; Departamento de Psicología Cognitiva, Social y Organizacional
  • Estefanía Hérnandez-Fernaud Universidad de la Laguna; Departamento de Psicología Cognitiva, Social y Organizacional
  • Dolores Díaz-Cabrera Universidad de la Laguna; Departamento de Psicología Cognitiva, Social y Organizacional
  • Tatiana Paravic-Klijn Universidad de Concepción; Departamento de Enfermería
  • Mónica Burgos-Moreno Universidad de Concepción; Departamento de Enfermería

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/0104-1169.0044.2557

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the perception of psychosocial factors and mental workload of nurses who work in intensive care units. It is hypothesised that nurses in these units could perceive psychosocial risks, manifesting in a high mental work load. The psychosocial dimension related to the position's cognitive demands is hypothesised to mostly explain mental work load. METHOD: Quantitative study, with a descriptive, cross-sectional, and comparative design. A total of 91% of the intensive care unit populations of three Chilean hospitals was surveyed, corresponding to 111 nurses. The instruments utilised included (A) a biosociodemographic history questionnaire; (b) the SUSESO-ISTAS 21 questionnaire; and (c) the Mental Work Load Subjective Scale (ESCAM, in Spanish). RESULTS: In total, 64% and 57% of participants perceived high levels of exposure to the psychosocial risks Psychosocial demands and Double shift, respectively. In addition, a medium-high level of overall mental load was observed. Positive and significant correlations between some of the SUSESO-ISTAS 21 and ESCAM dimensions were obtained. Using a regression analysis, it was determined that three dimensions of the psychosocial risk questionnaire helped to explain 38% of the overall mental load. CONCLUSION: Intensive care unit nurses felt that inadequate psychosocial factors and mental work overload existed in several of the tested dimensions.

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Published

2015-04-01

Issue

Vol. 23 No. 2 (2015)

Section

Original Articles

License

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Including names of authors whose contribution does not fit into the above criteria cannot be justified. Those names can be included in the Acknowledgements section.
 Authors are fully responsible for the concepts disseminated in their manuscripts, which do not necessarily reflect the editors’ and editorial board’s opinion.

 

How to Cite

Psychosocial factors and mental work load: a reality perceived by nurses in intensive care units . (2015). Revista Latino-Americana De Enfermagem, 23(2), 315-322. https://doi.org/10.1590/0104-1169.0044.2557