State anxiety and workplace harassment among nursing personnel

Abstract

Introduction: According to Spielberger, state anxiety refers to “the subjective emotional state characterized by tension and nervousness as a result of the present situation.” Workplace harassment in the health sector is a real problem. Aim: The main aim of this study was to examine the existence of state anxiety and phenomena of workrelated harassment. Methodology: An investigation was carried out in the area of Crete between August 2017 and January 2018 in fourteen Health Centers, two Primary National Health Networks, four Emergency Department, eleven Intensive Care Units. The study involved 213 nurses. The Leymann Inventory of Psychological Terror and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Unit 1, state anxiety) has been used. Results: The 45.5% of the total sample of the participants work in Intensive Care Units (ICU), the 24.9% in Emergency Departments (ED) and the 29.6% in Primary Care Units. The average age of the participants was 41.73 (±7.33). The reliability of State - Trait Anxiety Inventory (Unit 1, state anxiety) by Cronbach α was 0.895. The mean value of state anxiety was 40.82 for the total study sample. They were exposed to at least one mobbing behavior in the past 12 months, and for at least once a week, almost daily or daily and for at least 6 months the 11.3% of the total sample. Comparing the mean values οf the variable “structure” to the occurrence of state anxiety, the following results were obtained: ICU: state anxiety 41.74, ED: state anxiety 38.57. Primary Care: state anxiety 41.81. In particular, the higher values of state anxiety appear in the ED. There is α statistically significant result with state anxiety (Sig. (2-tailed) > 0,05 between age, marital status, and educational level. Regarding the total years of working the nursing personnel in the present department and the gender, there is α statistically significant result (Sig. (2-tailed) < 0,05) with state anxiety. From the total sample of the survey found that 24 people were exposed to at least one harassment behavior in the last 12 months and at least once a week and for at least 6 months. These 24 persons had a mean state anxiety of 47.50. Conclusions: The evaluation of the results shows that the nursing personnel of the total sample face state anxiety with mild intensity. Nurses who have been harassed have state anxiety with moderate intensity. It is necessary the education of nursing personnel in managing anxiety symptoms.