Articles

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of stress on the job performance of psychiatric nurses in the Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital in Cape Coast. A descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. A sample of 150 psychiatric nurses were selected from a population of 197 psychiatric nurses using a simple random sampling procedure. Data were collected using the Weiman Occupational Stress Scale (WOSS) questionnaire. 143 answered questionnaires were retrieved out of the 150 questionnaires offered, giving a 95% return rate. Data were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The study revealed that the psychiatric nurses' job performance were negatively affected due to the effects of stress, which include mild to severe headache, loss of concentration, exhaustion, anger, overreaction, finding excuses and absence from work, and forgetfulness. The study recommended that the hospital authorities structure the work schedules of psychiatric nurses so that the nurses can get intermittent periods of leave away from work while providing the logistics to make the work of psychiatric nurses easy.

MUP (medically unexplained pain) is a pain whose cause cannot be determined by diagnostic imaging, blood test, physical examination and past medical history, etc. Many departments have independently created the concept, definition, and diagnostic criterion in MUP. This leads to an abnormal situation in which each department has different disease concepts and diagnostic criteria. It is out-of-the-ordinary that physicians from the different departments make different diagnoses in the same patient. MUP has caused confusion in clinical practice. The medical community should make the unified disease concept, definition, and diagnostic criterion of MUP. For this purpose, the various scientific organizations involved in MUP need to discuss. In this case, the first priority should not be the majority vote, but the treatment outcomes. The solution to a medical controversy is to choose a medical theory or treatment method that produces better long-term results.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread rapidly worldwide and it has been a widespread concern. Japan had some problems in psychiatric wards such as long hospital stay. The purpose of this study investigated recognition of nurses in psychiatric wards for future care. We conducted questionnaire research for psychiatric nurses and they described recognition of nursing in free description. Qualitative analysis was performed on description. Results showed that six categories were chosen like “I<b>ncrease of stress and fatigue caused of infection control</b>,” “<b>Negative effects to body and mind of patients</b>,” “<b>Effects to nursing care in psychiatric nursing</b>,” “<b>Differences of attitude toward infection control in the hospital</b>,” “<b>Cognition for social </b><b>mo</b><b>vement </b><b>related to Coronavirus</b>,” and “<b>New </b><b>awareness </b><b>by Coronavirus infection and future</b><b>.</b><b>”</b> These results suggest the following, 1) some kind of supports will be needed for nurses’ stress for infection control, 2) supports or interventions for palliate of patients stress like limitation of prolonged quarantine, limit of visiting or home stay overnight, 3) integrated leaderships to cognition and behavior for infection control in a hospital.