title: Patient Involvement: A New Source of Stress in Health Care Work?
abstract: Patients have become increasingly well informed with higher expectations to be involved in decision-making processes regarding their care and treatment. However, few studies have examined the impact of patient involvement on health care providers' partnership-building communication. The aim of this study was to measure and explore the self-reported effects of patient involvement on the work of physicians and nurses. A questionnaire survey was distributed among cardiology staff in 12 Swedish hospitals (N = 488, response rate 67%). The sample was comprised of registered nurses (RNs, n = 303), licensed practical nurses (LPNs, n = 132), and physicians (MDs, n = 53). Confirmatory factor analysis was used to examine seven questionnaire statements concerning implications of patient involvement for one's clinical work. Regression analyses were used to examine factors associated with staff's partnership-building communication. Analysis confirmed two distinct factors accounting for 57% of the total variance, representing both negative-"Hassles"-and positive-"Uplifts"-aspects of patient involvement. Regression analyses revealed that only positive aspects (i.e., uplifts) of patient involvement predicted staff behavior aimed at involving patients. Working with actively involved patients may be a source of stress, both negative and positive, for health care professionals. By developing work routines for involving patients in their care, health care workplaces may help health care professionals to buffer the negative effects, and enhance the positive effects, of that stress.
authors.affiliation: a Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences , Wayne State University School of Medicine and Institute for Environmental Health Sciences , Detroit , Michigan , USA.|b Uppsala University , Uppsala , Sweden.
authors.forename: Judith E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Arnetz
authors.affiliation: c Department of Psychology , Booth University College , Winnipeg , Manitoba , Canada.
authors.forename: Ludmila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhdanova
authors.affiliation: b Uppsala University , Uppsala , Sweden.|d Wayne State University School of Medicine and Institute for Environmental Health Sciences , Detroit , Michigan , USA.
authors.forename: Bengt B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Arnetz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D064650:Home Health Nursing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010358:Patient Participation; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden