Job Stress among Iranian Nurses: A Meta‑Analysis

Background: Job stress is one of the most important factors in reducing the organizational productivity. Objective: This meta‑analysis aimed to determine the prevalence of job stress among nurses in Iran. Methods: All articles published on the prevalence of job stress among Iranian nurses from January 1, 2004, to April 31, 2020, were searched in six databases. The reference lists of the articles were also checked for additional relevant studies. Finally, 25 articles were analyzed through Comprehensive Meta‑Analysis software. Heterogeneity of studies was checked using the I2 index, Q‑test and the possibility of publication bias by the Egger test. Metaregression was performed to assess the variables suspected to affect the heterogeneity at a significance level of 0.05. The outcomes of the study were combined using the random‑effects model. Results: The overall prevalence of job stress in Iranian nurses was 37.5% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 28.5, 47.4). The highest prevalence was 96.4% in Tehran city in 2016 (95% CI: 90.3, 98.7), and the lowest prevalence was 2% in Kashan city in 2011 (95% CI: 0.7, 5.3). A significant correlation was observed between the prevalence of job stress and year (P = 0.0001), mean age (P = 0.002), and sample size (P < 0.0001). Conclusion: Job stress affects over a third of Iranian nurses. Health‑care policy‑makers and managers should decrease this stress by adopting appropriate strategies such as increasing welfare facilities, reconsidering job descriptions for different levels of nursing, providing support, increasing nurses’ involvement in the decision‑making process, improving communication between managers and nurses, and teaching problem‑solving skills to them.