Occupational Factors Associated with Work-Related Stress among Healthcare Personnel: A Case Study of a Community Hospital, Lopburi Province

Abstract

Work-related stress is a significant health concern among medical personnel, who are continuously exposed to high workloads, substantial responsibilities, and stressful situations. This study aimed to investigate occupational factors associated with work-related stress among medical personnel at a community hospital in Lopburi Province, Thailand. An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 120 participants using a questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression. The results showed that most participants were female, with a mean age of 41.5 years. Of the participants, 76.7% had a bachelor’s degree or higher, 40.0% had underlying diseases, 69.2% worked in professional positions, 52.5% worked five days per week, 69.2% worked no more than eight hours per day, 55.8% did not work shifts, and 74.2% reported having sufficient income for daily living. Overall, 51.6% had a high level of work-related stress. Among the psychosocial work dimensions, social support had the highest proportion at a high level (84.2%), followed by job security (76.7%) and job control and decision-making authority (65.0%). Most medical personnel were classified in the active job group (35.8%). The occupational factor significantly associated with work-related stress was working more than five days per week (Adjusted OR = 0.25, 95% CI: 0.10 – 0.62, p = 0.003). Therefore, healthcare organizations should emphasize appropriate workload and working-hour management, as well as suitable shift-work arrangements, to reduce work-related stress and promote the psychological well-being of medical personnel.