O humor e o stress dos enfermeiros que cuidam com pessoas em fim de vida

Abstract

Framework: The negative effects of stress are currently known. Nurses are one of the most exposed professional group to stressors namely those who provide end of life care due to their daily contact with death, bad emotions and suffer. It should be noted that these professionals recognize these stressors in order to manage them effectively aiming the prevention of repercussions in their health. There is scientific evidence that humor may constitute an incisive coping strategy in the management of occupational stress that can be used by professionals for their own benefit. The analysis of the relationship between humor and the stress level requires the exploitation of characteristics like the magnitude and orientation thereof using appropriate tools of evaluation. Aim: Establish the relationship between Humor and Stress in the workplace of nurses who provide end of life care. Define the nature of this relationship in terms of its magnitude and orientation.Methods: Correlational Study. Data collection began with an online form – containing a social-demographic survey and both Portuguese translations of Multidimensional Sense of Humor Scale (1) and Nurse Stress Index (2) – to 61 nurses who care for end of life patients. Data analysis was conducted using the statistical software SPSS, version 20. Results: The results of this study evince that individuals experience stress in several situations linked to work environment and reveal a strong humor acceptance and appreciation. Conclusions: An increase in the stress level led to a growth in sense of humor. Therefore, it can be seen that nurses who care for end of life patient’s appeal to sense of humor as a strategy to manage stressful situations that they face in their everyday labor.

Date of Award	30 Apr 2015
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Helena Maria Guerreiro José (Supervisor) & Manuel Luís Capelas (Co-Supervisor)