Work-Related Stress in Health Care Services: A Quantitative Study in Italy

The measurement of work-related stress (WRS) for health providers is a crucial but cumbersome task. In this study a "WRS identity card" (WRS-ID) is proposed to self-monitor WRS risk in one organization, with an emphasis on health professionals and administrative employees at hospital. The method is based on a standard questionnaire purposely designed and validated by INAIL, the National Authorities for Prevention and Protection of Health at Workplace, which provides input data for a statistical inference analysis. The procedure is illustrated on a representative dataset from medical organization to discriminate between WRS levels between different departments. More specifically, thanks to over 3000 questionnaires anonymously administered by authors in hospital departments in one of the most relevant health care organization in the Southern Italy, it has been outlined how innovative and effective tools to monitor WRS are crucial, especially due to the specific health care workers' psycho-physical conditions. Theoretical and managerial implications have been provided.