OCCUPATIONAL STRESS, JOB TENURE, AND JOB BURNOUT AMONG HIGH-RISK HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS IN A NIGERIAN TERTIARY HOSPITAL

Abstract

Healthcare professionals in Nigeria, especially those in tertiary hospitals, frequently encounters significant occupational stress and the risk of
job burnout, intensified by the rigorous demands of their positions and systemic issues within the healthcare system. In Ibadan, high patient
loads, limited resources, and the complexity of care in critical units exacerbate these pressures. Cross-sectional survey methodology was
adopted. This study focused on 160 randomly selected high-risk healthcare professionals from four specialised units: Theatre/ICU, Accident
& Emergency, Oncology, and Dentistry, at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. The sample comprised medical doctors and nurses,
exhibiting a diverse demographic profile. Data were collected through the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and the State Trait Anxiety
Index (STAI) to evaluate occupational stress, while the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) assessed job burnout. Statistical analyses comprised
independent t-tests, Pearson correlation, and one-way ANOVA, supplemented by Scheffé post hoc tests for multiple comparisons.
Participants’ age was 35.38 ± 7.52. years; 62.5% were female, while 51.87% were medical doctors. Results indicated that neither gender nor
job type had a significant influence on levels of occupational stress or burnout. There was a significant positive correlation between job tenure
and occupational stress. The job burnout levels of dental professionals were significantly higher than those of their colleagues in other
divisions. Based on these findings, it is advised that healthcare institutions implement targeted interventions to mitigate occupational stress,
particularly for professionals with short years of service and those in dental units. Regular mental health assessments, stress management
programmes, and organisational support systems are essential for reducing burnout and improving the well-being of high-risk healthcare
providers in Nigeria.