Evaluation of occupational health-related problems among nurses at Thi-qar governorate hospitals, Iraq

Objectives: This cross-sectional study sought to evaluate the physical and mental health issues that nurses were experiencing because of their work and to compare those issues based on demographic factors. Methods: A questionnaire with two sections was filled out by 101 nurses from three hospitals in Thi-Qar City. Physical difficulties were measured using a 21-item questionnaire from the Occupational Health Problems Scale (OHPS), and psychological disorders were measured using a 15-item questionnaire. Several statistical methods, including independent sample t-tests and one-way ANOVA, were used to analyze the data that was gathered. Results: According to the findings, nurses over the age of 40 had less physical discomfort than nurses between the ages of 25 and 40 (p=0.027) and nurses under the age of 25 (p=0.042). Additionally, female nurses reported more physical issues than male nurses (p=0.002). However, there was no discernible difference in the degree of psychological risks among nurses of various ages or genders (p>0.05). Compared to married nurses, single nurses had more psychological issues at work (p=0.013). Conclusion: The study's conclusion emphasizes the necessity of focused treatments and regulations to safeguard the physical and mental health of nurses at work. It is advised that while creating plans to deal with physical dangers, healthcare institutions and policymakers take the age and gender of nurses into consideration. Particularly, for younger and female nurses who are at higher risk, interventions may be required to lessen physical hazards. The study also highlights the significance of dealing with the high frequency of psychological issues among nursing staff. 2023, 75 pages Keywords: Nurses, Physical problem, Psychological problem, Occupational health, Hospitals.