Quantitative work demands, emotional demands, and cognitive stress symptoms in surgery nurses

ABSTRACT

In surgery, cognitive stress symptoms, including problems in
concentrating, deciding, memorising, and reflecting are risks to patient
safety. Recent evidence points to social stressors as antecedents of
cognitive stress symptoms in surgery personnel. The current study
tests whether cognitive stress symptoms are positively associated with
emotional abuse, emotional- and task-related demands and resources
in surgery work. Forty-eight surgery nurses from two hospitals filled
out the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire in its German
version. Task-related and emotional demands were positively related
to cognitive stress symptoms. In a stepwise, multiple, linear regression
of cognitive stress symptoms on task-related and emotional demands,
emotional abuse and emotional demands were unique predictors
(p < .05). Efforts to increase patient safety should address emotional
abuse, emotional demands, and, therefore, communication and
cooperation team climate in surgery personnel.