Improving Healthcare Professional Psychological Well-being in Neurorehabilitation: An Exploratory Study Focusing on Work Stress.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Work stress (WS) is a set of harmful physical and emotional reactions that occur when the demands coming from work are not adequate to the skills, resources, or needs of the worker. This causes physical, mental, psychological, or social suffering and dysfunction, which can lead to burnout syndrome. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate WS in the healthcare professions, evaluating the effectiveness of a professional stress prevention program to promote a reduction in WS. METHODS: Thirty-three healthcare professionals of the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) rehab ward of the IRCCS Neurolesi (Messina, Italy) were enrolled in this study. The professional stress prevention program was based on group support activities, as well as individual support. RESULTS: At baseline, we found a high burnout risk in physiotherapists, physicians, and other healthcare professionals. At the end of the meetings, we found a normalization in WS, with a higher sense of personal realization in all of the health-professions, and a greater use of functional coping strategies. CONCLUSION: The occupational stress-reducing intervention in healthcare teams can promote a reduction of stress and anxiety, encouraging more functional coping strategies to face work difficulties.