Factors Affecting Quality of Emergency Service in Iran's Military Hospitals: A Qualitative Study

Occupational stress and its relationship with spiritual coping among emergency department nurses and emergency medical services staff

Introduction

Emergency Department (ED) nurses and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Staff are faced with several stressors daily, such as the COVID 19 pandemic situation, which affects the health and the quality of services to patients. Spiritual coping with stress is an attempt to overcome the stress on the basis of what is transcendent. The use of spiritual coping strategies helps a person to overcome tensions caused by the work environment.

Objective

The current study aimed to investigate occupational stress and its relationship with spiritual coping among ED nurses and EMS staff.

Materials and methods

This study was descriptive-correlational research. Using convenience sampling methods, 516 ED nurses and EMS staff were enrolled in the study. The study instruments included demographic information, HSE Occupational Stress, and spiritual coping questionnaires. Data were analyzed using SPSSv.22 software and the descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation test, t-test, ANOVA, and multiple linear regression.

Results

The highest and lowest levels of occupational stress were the dimensions of “demand” (2.96 ± 0.65) and “role” (3.89 ± 0.81) respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that positive spiritual coping, negative spiritual coping, workplace, service location, type of employment, and work position were important factors affecting the occupational stress of ED nurses and EMS staff, which accounted for 0.34% of the variance.

Conclusion

The findings showed the need to improve the work environment for ED nurses and EMS staff, including changes in physical working conditions, salaries, and better employment conditions. Training programs are recommended to reduce stress through the use of positive spiritual coping strategies.

Explaining challenges of obstetric triage structure: A qualitative study

Aim

The purpose of this study was to explain the challenges of the obstetric triage structure.

Design

The present qualitative research was conducted with directed content analysis approach on 21 members of the triage team and the key informant using purposeful sampling in 2018.

Methods

The method of data collection was semi-structured interviews. Then, the accuracy and rigour of the qualitative data were examined.

Results

In this study, the most important challenges in the structure of obstetric triage were identified as pattern and standard, equipment, physical space, human resource and triage procedure and process. Correction and revision in the obstetric triage structure is important to provide high-quality services. Therefore, the quality of the structure can be developed and maintained accounting for the corresponding challenges.