[Perception of stress in the nursing profession: study of the behavior of s-IgA].
OBJECTIVE
To assess and compare self reported work stressors among emergency (PS) and medicine department (ME) nurses, and to investigate its relation with salivary IgA.


METHODS
Fifty seven of 93 (61.2%) female PS and ME nurses participated in the study. The Italian version of NIOSH Job Stress Questionnaire was used to measure self perceived stress. ELISA methods were used to determine the salivary IgA.


RESULTS
The scores of scales such as workload and conflict with co-workers were higher in PS (3.72 and 3.18) than in ME nurses (3.12 and 2.66). PS nurses had lower concentration rates of IgA (mean 123.3 microg/ml) than ME nurses (mean 221.49 microg/ml). Significant inverse correlations were observed between the scores of workload and conflict with co-workers and log IgA (respectively r -0.27 e -0.33, both p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
PS nurses showed significantly lower secretion rates of salivary IgA compared to ME nurses. Salivary IgA were inversely correlated with measured self reported work stressors.
Mocci
F
F
Istituto di Medicina Legale e di Medicina del Lavoro, Università di Sassari, Italy. mocci@uniss.it
Bullitta
M A
MA
D000328:Adult; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005194:Family Practice; D006801:Humans; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000032:analysis*; D009729:Nursing; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000523:psychology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000276:immunology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000276:immunology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory