Psychosocial risk factors related to nurses’ professional activity

Abstract

The article analyzes the psychosocial risk factors and their perception in the professional activity of nurses working in departments with a high degree of patients’ mortality. Based on the constructivist methodology developed within the sociology of risk perception, the authors propose the definition of occupational risk as a social construct, conditioned both by objective and by subjective factors, which are the consequence of the professional activities, the organization of work and the specifics of the health system. From the perspective of this definition, the psychosocial health risk and its factors are considered. The conducted study is based on the research of oncological dispensaries in the city of Saratov and in Engels, as well as oncological departments of medical and preventive institutions in Saratov. To implement this intention, a sociological survey method was used based on the questionnaire “Indicators of nursing staff health protection in their professional activities” developed and methodology K. Maslach, S. Jackson “MBI Emotional Burnout Questionnaire”. 362 respondents took part in the research. The results of the study demonstrated that for the majority of nurses there is a low level of emotional burnout. The nurses perceive increased psychophysiological fatigue, intense monotonous work, stress, professional status, low wages, and lack of legal protection as the most significant factors of psychosocial risk. They produce either their own practices to minimize risks, or use institutional practices. The obtained results highlight the importance of preventive measures against psychosocial risk factors in the professional activities of nursing staff.