Fatigue and stress levels of hospital emergency department staff – preliminary reports

Introduction
The aim of study was to determine the level and influence of fatigue and general stress levels among emergency department staff.

Material and methods
Team research in a group of 119 people employed in three Hospital Rescue Departments in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship. The Fatigue Assessment Scale and the Perceived Stress Scale-10 standardised research scales and the author’s questionnaire for subjective assessment of the quality of performed operations were used. The method of diagnostic survey and estimation was used in the work.

Results
The research was carried out among 119 people actively working in Emergency Departments in Podkarpackie Voivodeship. Sixty-seven of them are nurses, 38 of whom are paramedics and 14 are doctors. The results indicate a direct correlation between stress levels and fatigue among hospital staff. The correlation between sex and type of work carried out was also presented. In subjective evaluation of the quality of medical service provided, the relationship between patient and staff and work satisfaction was high among employees.

Conclusions
The fatigue levels of test subjects were on an average level. The age and type of work done by them had no direct effect on the fatigue levels. The stress level in the tested group was also on an average level. The highest level was presented by women (nurses’ group), a lower level was presented by paramedics, and the lowest by doctors. The respondents who highly rated services undertaken and were satisfied with their work presented a lower level of stress and fatigue.