WORK-RELATED STRESS

Background: Work-related stress is a major occupational health challenge in healthcare settings, particularly among healthcare professionals who are interns transitioning from academic training to clinical practice. Moreover, prolonged exposure to stress can negatively affect job performance, mental well-being, and quality of patient care. This study investigated the prevalence, sources, consequences of work-related stress among interns of the University of Benin Teaching hospital (UBTH) Benin City, Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 188 interns selected through stratified random sampling from seven clinical departments in UBTH. Data were collected using Demographic and Work profile Questionnaire and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS— 10) tools. Descriptive statistics summarized prevalence and stressors, while inferential statistics examined relationships between stress and demographic variables using SPSS version 27.0 Results: The results of the study indicated that most respondents (81.9%) experienced moderate stress, 6.9% high stress, and 11.2% Low stress. Major stressors included excessive workload, poor communication with Supervisors, and Lack of appreciation. Stress negatively affected concentration (40.4%), quality of patient care (40.4%), and motivation (36.7%). Physical and psychological symptoms reported included fatigue, headaches, sleep disturbances, anxiety, and depressive feelings. No significant association was found between stress Levels and age, gender, department, duration of internship, number of patients attended daily, or weekly working hours (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Work-related stress is highly prevalent among interns at UBTH and impacts their performance and well-being. Institutional interventions, including stress management programs, supportive supervision, and moderated workload, core recommended to improve intern welfare and patient safety