Stress in IVF workers.

Abstract

Workers in new and personally exacting health services face particular challenges which are not evident in more traditional areas. IVF workers are involved in such an innovative service. Their perception of workplace stressors has not previously been addressed in the literature. Fifty-nine IVF workers and 32 non-IVF workers (in routine obstetrics and gynaecology) completed a battery of standardized psychological questionnaires on the symptomatology of stress and in addition answered questions on workplace problems and work satisfaction. Reported stress was highest among scientific/technical workers who varied significantly from the control group scores. IVF medical staff showed elevated stress scores, but were not significantly separated from controls, except on state anxiety. Work satisfaction scores were generally high for all IVF professions, except for pay and promotion satisfaction scores which were depressed among nurses and scientific/technical staff. It was concluded that this initial survey had revealed important information about the impact of a new scientific and clinical enterprise upon staff and should promote closer examination of the reasons for such reported stress.