Carga horária de trabalho dos enfermeiros de emergência e sua relação com estresse e cortisol salivar

DALRI, R. C. M. B. Workload emergency nurses and relationship with stress and cortisol salivary. 2013. 201 f. Tese (Doutorado) – Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, 2013. Objective: To analyze the correlations between workload and levels of occupational stress, physiological responses to stress and salivary cortisol levels among nurses working in an emergency unit. Methods: A descriptive, correlational and cross-sectional study with quantitative approach, performed in the Emergency Unit of the Hospital das Clínicas of the University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto Medical School; data collection was carried out in the second half of 2011 and in first half of 2012 through a questionnaire for sample characterization, Stress Inventory for Nurses, Physiological Responses to Stress Inventory and device Salivette. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee and the sample was consisted of 95 nurses working in the morning. The Spearman correlation tests and Pearson were used and the level of significance was α = 0,05. To investigate the association between categorized variables, the Fisher's exact test was used; and the quantifying of this association was measured by means of logistic regression models in which the crude odds ratio was calculated with their respective confidence intervals of 95%. P values less than 0,05 were considered significant. Results: Most subjects were women, aged between 23 and 61 years old, single (44,2%) and married (43,2%). With respect to employment relationships, it was found that 80% of nurses had just one job and 51,6% worked from 37 to 57 hours a week. As for the contract in the institution, 68.4% were hired through civil service exam and were linked with the state, 55,8% did not work at night and 80% developed their work activities on weekends and holidays regarding the period of time in the profession, 51,6% reported practicing it from 0,1 to 10 years and 56% worked in the hospital for the same period. Related to the stress level, 15.8% of nurses had low levels, 69,5% moderate and 14,7% high. The physiological responses more common were back pain, fatigue/exhaustion, stiff neck and stomach acidity; such responses presented themselves low in 46,3% of subjects and moderate in 42,1%. With regard to salivary cortisol levels, it was observed that there were no results above the reference value for normality, and 73,7% of nurses had values within this normality and 26,3% values below it. The amplitude ranged from 0,06 to 1,29 nm/ml. There was no correlation between workload and levels of occupational stress, physiological responses to stress and salivary cortisol levels. Conclusion: Although the majority of nurses worked for more than 36 hours/week, they showed moderate levels of occupational stress, physiologically showed no elevated responses to stress and cortisol levels had not increased; these facts can be explained by the use of coping mechanisms, taking into account their life histories, personality traits, social support, organizational climate, among others. Even though the workload has not been correlated with stress, it can cause fatigue and influence the occurrence of errors, which interferes with quality of patient care; thus the workload has relevance in the context of occupational health. Descriptors: Emergency nursing; Nurses; Work hours; Stress physiological; Stress psychological; Occupational diseases; Hydrocortisone.