Modified mental health professional stress scale (PSS)
| Subjects are asked to indicate on a four point scale how frequently they experienced such situations as stressful in the present department* |
|---|
| *0, does not apply to me; 1, does not usually apply to me; 2, does occasionally apply to me; 3, does apply to me. |
| Modified from Cushway et al.22 |
| 1. Work load (WL) |
| A. Too much work to do |
| B. Too many different things to do |
| C. Not enough time to complete all tasks satisfactorily |
| D. Too many patients |
| E. Too long working hours |
| F. Not enough time for recreation |
| 2. Patient related difficulties (PD) |
| A. Communicating with patients |
| B. Dealing with death or suffering |
| C. No or slowness of improvement in patient’s situation |
| D. Dealing with difficult or demanding patients |
| E. Dealing with physically threatening patients |
| F. Managing therapeutic relations with patients |
| 3. Organisational structure and processes (OS) |
| A. Lack of support from management |
| B. Lack of relationship with your immediate supervisors |
| C. Lack of communications and flow of information at work |
| D. Poor management and supervision |
| E. Lack of ways that conflicts are resolved in the organisation |
| F. Poor organisational structure and policies |
| 4. Lack of resources (RES) |
| A. Lack of adequate staffing |
| B. Lack of financial resources for training courses/workshops |
| C. Lack of adequate equipment/supplies |
| D. Lack of adequate protection in potentially dangerous environment |
| E. Inadequate clerical/technical back up |
| F. Poor physical working conditions |
| 5. Conflict with other professionals (COF) |
| A. Conflict with other professionals (e.g. doctor) |
| B. Conflicting roles with other health professionals |
| C. Conflict with staff in other departments |
| D. Criticism by other professionals (e.g. doctor) |
| E. Lack of emotional support from colleagues |
| F. Difficulty of working with certain colleagues |
| 6. Professional self doubt (SD) |
| A. Feeling inadequately skilled for dealing with emotional needs of patients |
| B. Feeling uncertain about own capabilities |
| C. Feeling inadequately skilled for dealing with difficult patients |
| D. Feeling about the efficacy of therapeutic endeavours |
| E. Difficulty in keeping professional/clinical skills up to date |
| F. Fear of a mistake over a patient’s treatment |
| 7. Home-work conflicts |
| A. Not enough time with friends |
| B. Inability to separate personal from professional role |
| C. Taking work home |
| D. Relationship with spouse/partner affects work |
| E. Work results in feelings of emptiness and/or isolation |
| F. Inadequate time for friendships/social relationships |