ABSTRACT
Objective
To describe the frequency with which nursing staff in hospitals presents an altered diurnal pattern of cortisol secretion.
Method
These findings were based on results obtained from 56 randomly selected professional nursing staff working in outpatient clinics, medical clinics, surgical clinics, operating theaters, pediatric and adult emergency units, adult and pediatric intensive care units of a university hospital. The analysis of the diurnal cortisol pattern was based on saliva samples collected over two consecutive working days.
Results
42.5% of these nursing staff members presented an atypical pattern of cortisol secretion. Furthermore, the longer the period of exercising this profession, the higher the cortisol concentration (r=0.346; p=0.020).
Conclusion
Over one-third of nursing staff samples displayed atypical cortisol secretion patterns. This suggests that these professionals are exposed, not only to a mental, but also to a biological, overload and thus, to a risk of contracting stress-related illnesses.
Nursing; Stress; Psychological; Hydrocortisone; Occupational Diseases; Occupational Health
The bars represent standard error. Chi-squared test.
* indicates a significant difference in the cortisol average at bedtime between the groups (p=0.001). The bars represent standard error. ANOVA for repeated measures, post hocBonferroni.
The bars represent standard error. Chi-squared test.