Determining Perceived Workplace Stress and Resilience among Health Information Management Department Employees

Background: Healthcare workers have reported high levels of stress that are closely linked to a wide range of health outcomes. Health Information Management (HIM) department employees are an important part of the healthcare industry. Previous research has shown that Health Information Management Department Directors (HIMDDs) have experienced job stress due to work-related challenges and the coping process used by HIMDDs use to deal with these stressors has been reviewed. However, the level of perceived workplace stress and resilience among all HIM department employees had not been evaluated. Knowledge of employee workplace stress and resilience to stress could help to decrease employee stress and anxiety and identify ways to encourage resilience while working toward a stress-free work environment. This study evaluated the level of perceived workplace stress and resilience among HIM department employees to address issues that may hinder or help HIM department employees achieve a better quality of work life. Design and Methods: The target population for the study consisted of 154 Medical Information Management (MIM) department employees. Participants completed a secure online survey via SurveyMonkey that included socio-demographic and departmental questions, perceived workplace stress questions, and resilience questions. Descriptive, explanatory and correlational statistical procedures were conducted on the data. These procedures included calculating frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations, ANOVA, Spearmans’s rho correlation coefficients, chi square analyses, and t-tests. Results: The average perceived workplace stress for MIM department employees at OSUWMC was slightly above the midpoint on a five point scale, and the average overall resilience was well above the midpoint on a five point scale. Spearman’s rho correlation demonstrated a statistically significant relationship between overall perceived workplace stress and overall resilience. Social competence and perception of future were the resilience factors with the lowest means, and social resources had the highest mean. Multiple socio-demographic and departmental characteristics were assessed in relation to perceived workplace stress and resilience. When broken down by current job title, structured style was negatively correlated with stress showing a statistically significant relationship in terms of; the more structured a person is, the less perceived workplace stress they have. Conclusion: While it is encouraging that the average perceived workplace stress was only slightly above the midpoint and the average resilience was well above the midpoint for the MIM department at OSUWMC, this study identified certain risk factors that could increase perceived workplace stress and protective factors that buffer the effects of stress. Working to reduce stress and increase resilience, especially within certain socio-demographic and departmental characteristics will help the department become more resilient and be better prepared for the upcoming challenges and adversities the profession has yet to face.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Allied Medical Professions

Grantor dc:publisher

The Ohio State University

Year dc:date

2013

Author dc:creator

• Nelson, Kristin Marie, B.S., RHIA

Contributors dc:contributor

• Brodnik, Melanie

• Health Care Management
• Behavioral Sciences
• Adult Education
• stress
• resilience
• HIM
• health information management

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1363089131

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:osu1363089131