Journal of Surgery and Trauma

en Prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Associated Occupational Factors Among Nurses in Selected Hospitals Affiliated with Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Iran (2024) تروما Trauma پژوهشي Research <div style="text-align: justify;">Introduction: Nurses are frequently exposed to stressful clinical events, including patient suffering and death, workplace violence, and severe clinical incidents, which may increase their risk of post-traumatic stress symptoms. This study aimed to estimate the proportion of nurses screening positive for probable post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and to examine demographic and occupational factors associated with PCL-5 symptom scores among nurses working in selected teaching hospitals affiliated with Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Iran, in 2024. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 200 nurses selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using a demographic and occupational questionnaire and the Persian version of the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). The PCL-5 consists of 20 items scored from 0 to 4, yielding a total score ranging from 0 to 80. A total score of ≥35 was used as the threshold for a positive screening result for probable PTSD. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software (version 24) and included descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Spearman's correlation, as appropriate. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: The mean age of participants was 32.64 ± 6.40 years. The mean total PCL-5 score was 31.54±12.30. Based on a cutoff score of ≥35, 81 of 200 nurses (40.5%; 95% CI: 33.7%–47.3%) had a positive screening result for probable PTSD. The mean scores were 8.08±3.54 for intrusion, 3.27±2.18 for avoidance, 10.78±5.20 for negative alterations in cognition and mood, and 9.42±4.93 for alterations in arousal and reactivity. Monthly overtime hours showed a weak positive correlation with PCL-5 scores (ρ=0.148, P=0.037). Overall PCL-5 scores differed significantly across job-rank categories (F(3, 196) = 3.31, P = 0.021); however, no individual pairwise comparison remained statistically significant after Games–Howell post-hoc adjustment. Conclusions: A substantial proportion of nurses in the participating teaching hospitals screened positive for probable PTSD. Monthly overtime hours showed a weak positive association with PCL-5 symptom scores, while the overall comparison of PCL-5 scores across job-rank categories was statistically significant; however, no individual pairwise comparison remained statistically significant after Games–Howell adjustment. Given the cross-sectional design, convenience sampling, and use of a self-report screening instrument, these findings should be interpreted cautiously and should not be considered estimates of clinically diagnosed PTSD. Further multicenter studies using probability sampling and structured clinical interviews are warranted.</div> Iran, Nurses, Occupational Stress, Stress Disorders, Traumatic 0 0 http://jsurgery.bums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-556-2&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Seyedeh Mostafa Mohsenizadeh MohsenizadehM@bums.ac.ir 0000-0002-9949-1967 No Department of Nursing, Qaen Faculty of Medical Sciences, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran Asieh Moudi MoudiA@bums.ac.ir 0000-0001-6416-415X No Department of Midwifery, Qaen Faculty of Medical Sciences, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran Amir Hossein Rezaee RezaeeAH@bums.ac.ir 0009-0001-0593-342X No Department of Nursing, Qaen Faculty of Medical Sciences, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran Ata Hosseinzadeh hosseinzadehAta@bums.ac.ir 0009-0007-9362-0338 Yes Student Research Committee, Department of Nursing, Qaen Faculty of Medical Sciences, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran