Level of Stress at Nurses Working in Emergency Clinic and Central Intensive Care: University Clinical Centre of Kosovo

Background: Emergency Clinic (EC) and Central Intensive Care (CIC) are high-stress environments that directly affect the health status of nurses. Methods: The aim of this study was to assess the level of stress at nurses working in the Emergency Clinic and nurses working in the Central Intensive Care. The study included 90 nurses, 45 nurses working in Emergency Clinic and 45 nurses working in Central Intensive Care. The study applied the Emergency Nurse Stress Questionnaire as an instrument to gather the data. This questionnaire was adopted from the Operational Police Stress Questionnaire in order to serve for the function and aim of the present study. Results: Nurses’ cohort-age ranged from 20 to 62 years. The largest proportion of respondents 40 (44.4%) was in the 20 - 30 age group, 58 (64.4%) were married, 60 (66.6%) hold bachelor degree and (33.3%) were with secondary school educational level. In terms of work-related fatigue, significant difference was found in working hours, participants reported that there was a significant difference in fatigue between 12 hours shift nurses (61 ± 10.5) compared to 8 hours nurses (41 ± 23.6) with P < 0.001. Results indicated that a vast majority of participants reported moderate to high levels of stress (81% of participants). There was no significant difference in the level of stress between the two groups of participants. There were also no significant differences compared to their demographic characteristics. Conclusion: These findings emphasize the role of using and assuring adequate strategies for ensuring quality management and finding ways of facilitating the increase in the number of nursing staff in these two departments because workplace overload and fatigue are potential factors that increase nurses’ stress levels.

The Self-Administered International Prostate Symptoms Score (IPSS) Questionnaire of Kosovo Men with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Background: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) has been a major health problem for aging males because of its related symptoms and complications. Although it is not a life-threatening condition, BPH has an adverse effect on a patient’s quality of life, as manifested in community and clinical trials. Aim: The aim of the study was the perception of patients in their symptomatology by comparing the place of residence and quality of life in living with HBP using the IPSS questionnaire. Materials and Methods: This was a prospectively designed study conducted at University Clinical Centre of Kosovo—Urology Clinic. The study was conducted from October 2020 to January 2021. The study in criteria was as follows: all patients who presented to the urology outpatient clinic with BPH, Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) and aged > 40 years. The exclusion criteria included the following cases: patients with uncontrolled diabetes (prostate-specific antigen > 4 ng/dL);patients with a history of transurethral resection of the prostate. Results: This study was carried out on 100 consecutive patients with HBP and LUTS attending. The largest proportion of patients 51% was in the 46 - 55 age group. Most patients were between 45 - 65 years of 51%. The largest number of them (52%) was with severe symptoms and 41% of them were with moderate symptoms. Comparing the three levels of IPSS and the quality of life of patients with HBP and LUTS, when asked how they would feel if they still had problems with urination, 22% said they felt upset, analyzing the categorization of patients according to IPSS: mild symptoms were Mean/SD (1.71. ± 1.113), moderate symptoms (2.9 ± 1.49) and severe symptoms (4.31 ± 1.27) p < 0.156. Statistical reliability of 64% p < 0.000 was in patients where they were interested in learning about any invasive option that would allow them to discontinue medication for LUTS. Conclusion: The IPSS is a valid instrument to assess the impact of BPH symptoms on health and quality of life due to urinary symptoms.