An exploring of the factors that cause stress and burnout among health care assistants in Dublin hospitals

Authors

Pasquali, Diana

Issue Date

2014

Degree

BA (Hons) in Social Science

Publisher

Dublin Business School

Rights

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to obtain views and perceptions of factors that cause stress among health care assistants in acute Dublin hospitals. 5 This study was carried out as a qualitative piece of research with semi structured interviews the 5 participants interviewed were health care assistants working in acute hospital settings. The Data was analysed using thematic analysis and NVivo 10 software was used to code interviews’ and subsequently put into themes. The finding suggest that all health care assistants enjoy their work despite being exposed to poor working conditions in acute hospital settings. In addition the study reveals that health care assistants were feeling relatively stressed. The research indicated that the major stressors for participant were: shortage of staff and work overload, undervalued and unfair treatment, lack of training and stress management programmes and gender inequalities and emotional labour.