Study: Work stress among health care providers

View the most recent version.

Nearly half of all health care providers in 2003 suffered a high degree of work stress, with nurses, doctors and lab technicians reporting the highest levels, according to a new study.

Among health care providers, 45%, or 413,000, reported that most days at work were "quite" or "extremely" stressful, according to the 2003 Canadian Community Health Survey. By comparison, 31% of all other employed people reported this level of stress.

The study, published today in Health Reports, compares work stress among various types of health care providers.

Besides physicians and nurses, the study included occupations such as ambulance attendants, technicians and therapists. In 2003, health care providers comprised 6% of the work force aged 18 to 75.

Head nurses report high stress

Two-thirds, or 67%, of head nurses and nurse supervisors reported high work stress, among the highest of the health care occupations, the study found.

Others with high work stress were medical laboratory technicians, specialist physicians, general practitioners and family physicians, and registered nurses (other than head nurses and supervisors). In these groups, the proportions reporting high work stress ranged from 58% to 64%.

Even when influences outside the job were taken into account, nurses and physicians were significantly more likely to report high work stress than all other health care workers.

Dental hygienists were among the least likely to report high job stress, at 19%. Other health professionals relatively less likely to report high job stress included physiotherapists (29%) and nurse aides and orderlies (34%).

Life stress related to work stress

Among health care workers who reported high levels of stress in their daily lives, 78% also reported high work stress. Similarly, 75% of health care providers who reported being "dissatisfied" or "very dissatisfied" with their lives reported high work stress.

There was no statistically significant difference between the proportions of men and women in health care occupations who reported high work stress. Age was a factor, however, with about half of health care providers aged 35 to 54 reporting high work stress, the highest among age groups.

In comparison, the proportions were lower, at 41%, among those aged 55 to 75, and 31% among those younger than 25.

Longer hours, higher work stress

Health care providers who worked 35 or more hours per week were much more likely than those working fewer than 35 hours per week to report high stress.

As well, those who had a schedule other than a regular daytime shift were more likely to report high work stress.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 3226.

The study, "Work stress among health care providers", part of Health Reports, Vol. 18, no. 4 (82-003-XWE, free), is now available from the Publications module of our website.

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Kathryn Wilkins (613-951-1769; kathryn.wilkins@statcan.gc.ca), Health Information and Research Division.

The complete version of the latest issue of Health Reports, Vol. 18, no. 4 (82-003-XWE, free), is also now available. A printed version (82-003-XPE, $22/$63) is also available.

For more information about Health Reports, contact Christine Wright (613-951-1765; christine.wright@statcan.gc.ca), Health Information and Research Division.