Stress management in hospitals

Abstract

Job stress in employees in hospitals has been recognized as a key issue in the workplace. In this paper, characteristics of job stress in the medical profession, especially in doctors and nurses, and the effectiveness of stress management are overviewed. The important points in stress management in hospitals are summarized as follows: 1) improvement of work environment, 2) assurance of participation and autonomy, 3) education or training to reduce job stress (ex. coping behavior, self-care, relaxation), 4) career development, 5) total support among medical professions. Some reports have demonstrated that the establishment of constant meetings is an effective method of reducing job stress and improving mental health in the medical profession, but few prospective intervention studies have been carried out. Further research is necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of stress reduction and to develop effective intervention programs for medical professions in hospitals.