Stress assessment among health care workers in Morocco

Purpose of the study. This epidemiological study, cross-sectional and multicentric, aims to assess the level of stress among medical and paramedical staff in hospital facilities. It evaluates risk factors and psychosomatic manifestations of stress and analyses the relationship between the state of stress and socioprofessional characteristics, risk factors and psychosomatic manifestations. Method. An anonymous self-questionnaire, inspired by that of the INRS, was submitted to all nurses and physicians. It consists of 50 items grouped in four sections: sociodemographic and professional data, protection and stress risk factors in working premises, stress indicators and perception of stress. Results. Three thousands five hundred fifty-four subjects answered the questionnaire. Prevalence of stress was 21.7%. Females and paramedics were the most affected. Stress was more frequent in the big cities (Casablanca and Rabat). Compensation behavior was more important among stressed subjects. Factors of professional risk stress were high psychological demand associated with low decisional latitude and insufficient social support. Paraprofessional factors predisposing to stress included socioeconomic difficulties, complementary supporting activity, transportation problems and dependents. Conclusion. Services of occupational health, recently instituted in medical facilities, should detect the Suffering of the staff and improve the psychological environment. However, socioeconomic difficulties and the precarious situation of health staff, especially nurses, cannot be solved except at a higher level where decisions concerning salaries and living conditions should be made. (c) 2008 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.