STRESS AND MENTAL-HEALTH IN NEONATAL INTENSIVE-CARE UNITS

The views of 34 neonatologists (a 78% response rate) and 192 neonatal intensive care nurses (a 66% response rate) were obtained on work, str ess, and relationships in neonatal intensive care units. The survey wa s conducted by post and included Goldberg's General Health Questionnai re (GHQ). A comparison of the responses of neonatologists and nurses t o 21 identical statements showed significant differences in 12. Most n eonatologists felt that they involved nurses in critical patient care decisions, provided adequate pain relief for their patients, gave nurs es adequate information on patients' progress after discharge, and wer e aware of Little doctor-nurse conflict. However, the nurses' response s differed significantly in these areas, suggesting that the neonatolo gists may have a more rosy view of life in the neonatal intensive care unit than their nurse colleagues. Twenty seven per cent of neonatolog ists and 32% of nurses had GHQ scores indicating psychological dysfunc tion. The neonatologists who had dysfunctional scores differed from th eir colleagues in only one area surveyed - a higher proportion experie nced conflict between the demands of their work and their personal liv es.