Work Stress and Coping Strategies among Staff of University of Ilorin Health Service Unit, Ilorin, Nigeria: A Qualitative Study

Work stress occurs in all professions and work settings, including healthcare centre’s where doctors, nurses, pharmacist, administrative personnel’s and allied workers operate. These set of people are exposed to various degrees of occupational stress that could make them vulnerable to psychological morbidity. The objectives of this study explore the experiences and perspectives of work-related stress among staffs in the University of Ilorin health service unit, while covering the causes, effects, and coping strategies as well. The study used a qualitative data collected from 8 clinical staffs, through an in-depth interview guide. The collected data was transcribed and was coded, using Nvivo12 and was analyzed thematically. The findings of the study revealed that heavy workload, staff shortages, lack of sessional break and institutional support were major causes of stressors found. While tiredness, pains, headache, irritability, emotional exhaustion and sleep disturbance, strained relationships with colleagues, family, and friends which are clear signs of anxiety and depression constitute the effects. Further results on coping strategies found were self breaks, physical exercise, talking with friends or colleagues, and time management strategies. The study recommends that the administration should employ additional staffs to all sectional units to ease workload burden; to as well mitigate effects of work-related stress by providing support systems; and enhancing coping strategies by promoting self-care activities, stress management workshops, and training on coping mechanisms for staffs at all levels