title: Assessment and Management of Work-Related Stress in Hospital Emergency Departments in Italy.
abstract: Recent changes in the organization of the healthcare system, triggered by the current economic crisis in Italy, require interventions aimed at minimizing the impact of work-related stress (WRS) on healthcare workers' health status and well-being. Emergency department (ED) personnel appear to be particularly vulnerable to WRS as a consequence of specific occupational risk factors. The aim of this retrospective observational study was to analyze the level of WRS after improvement interventions implemented by the management staff of the ED and focused on work context factors. The assessment of WRS showed that nurses and physicians of the ED are exposed to a medium level of risk; the improvement interventions aimed at reducing WRS were focused on: (1) function and organizational culture; (2) role within the occupational organization; and (3) relationships at work policy. These interventions were found to be significantly effective in reducing the risk of WRS.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: d'Ettorre
authors.forename: Maria Rita
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Greco
mesh_terms: D000066491:Clinical Decision-Making; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006740:Hospital Administrators; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D015279:Organizational Culture; D010348:Patient Care Team; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012308:Risk Management; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control*