The Relationship of Length of Treatment with the Stress Level of Surgical Inpatients in Dr. Rasidin Padang
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69855/perawat.v3i2.612Keywords:
Stress, Long Treatment, Surgical WardAbstract
Length of hospital stay is a key factor influencing patient stress, especially among individuals in surgical wards who face both physical and psychological challenges. Unmanaged stress may delay recovery and reduce quality of life. This study aimed to examine the relationship between length of stay and stress levels among patients in the surgical ward of Dr. Rasidin Padang Hospital. A quantitative approach with a cross-sectional design was used. The sample consisted of 72 patients selected through purposive sampling based on inclusion criteria. Data were collected using the DASS-21 stress questionnaire and an observation sheet to record length of stay. Univariate analysis described the frequency distribution, while bivariate analysis using the Chi-square test assessed the relationship between variables. Results showed that most respondents had a length of stay of 5 days (58.3%) and experienced moderate stress levels (45.8%). The bivariate analysis indicated a significant relationship between length of stay and stress levels (p-value = 0.002), with longer hospitalization associated with higher stress. In conclusion, length of treatment is significantly related to patient stress levels. These findings highlight the importance of implementing stress management interventions, including patient education, psychological support, and regular mental health monitoring, to improve care quality and promote faster recovery.
References
Andini, R. (2022). The relationship between social support and stress levels among hospitalized patients. Indonesian Journal of Nursing, 15(2), 101–108.
Azhari, M. (2024). Psychological adaptation of patients to hospitalization stress in inpatient wards. Journal of Public Health Sciences, 18(1), 45–52.
Chaboyer, W., Thalib, L., Harbeck, E., et al. (2021). Predictors of psychological distress in surgical patients during hospitalization. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 30(5–6), 789–798. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.15542
Cohen, S., Janicki-Deverts, D., & Miller, G. E. (2007). Psychological stress and disease. JAMA, 298(14), 1685–1687. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.298.14.1685
Hidayat, T., Sari, D., & Putra, A. (2023). The relationship between length of hospital stay and anxiety and stress levels in postoperative patients. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 12(3), 210–218.
Jannah, R., Fadli, M., & Utami, N. (2024). Analysis of factors influencing length of stay in surgical wards. Journal of Nursing Management, 9(1), 33–40.
Kurniawan, D. (2021). Psychosocial factors among hospitalized patients in regional hospitals. Holistic Health Journal, 7(2), 88–95.
Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, appraisal, and coping. New York: Springer Publishing Company.
Lestari, P. (2023). The influence of hospital environment on stress levels among inpatients. Journal of Nursing and Health, 11(2), 120–127.
Li, Y., Li, H., Fan, R., et al. (2020). Anxiety and stress among hospitalized patients: The role of hospitalization duration and social isolation. BMC Psychiatry, 20(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-020-02888-7
McIsaac, D. I., Wong, C. A., Bryson, G. L., et al. (2017). Association of delay of urgent or emergency surgery with mortality and use of health care resources. JAMA Surgery, 152(7), 668–674. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamasurg.2017.0400
Melyana, S., Dewi, L., & Hartono, B. (2023). Description of stress levels among hospitalized patients in general hospitals. Journal of Nursing Science, 14(1), 56–63.
Mitchell, M. (2014). Psychological preparation for patients undergoing day surgery. Ambulatory Surgery, 20(1), 14–19.
Nur, A., Rahmawati, E., & Syahputra, R. (2023). Psychological aspects of patients in nursing care services in hospitals. Journal of Professional Nursing, 10(3), 145–152.
Pangandaheng, J., Lumingkewas, M., & Rondonuwu, R. (2024). The relationship between length of treatment and stress levels among hospital patients. Caring Nursing Journal, 16(1), 77–84.
Pratama, Y. (2021). The role of spirituality in stress levels among hospitalized patients. Journal of Spiritual Nursing, 6(2), 66–73.
Putri, A., & Rahmawati, S. (2022). The relationship between length of stay and stress levels in surgical patients. Journal of Medical-Surgical Nursing, 8(2), 99–106.
Rahman, F. (2022). Analysis of stress factors in long-term hospitalized patients. Indonesian Journal of Public Health, 13(1), 41–48.
Rotstein, O. D., Ferguson, R., & Cuschieri, J. (2019). Determinants of prolonged hospital stay after surgery. Annals of Surgery, 270(1), 45–52. https://doi.org/10.1097/SLA.0000000000002765
Sa’diah, N. (2025). Stress and psychological needs of hospitalized patients. Indonesian Journal of Nursing Science, 20(1), 15–23.
Saputra, R. (2024). The relationship between length of stay and psychological condition of hospitalized patients. Journal of Clinical Health, 12(1), 22–30.
Schneiderman, N., Ironson, G., & Siegel, S. D. (2005). Stress and health: Psychological, behavioral, and biological determinants. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 1, 607–628. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.clinpsy.1.102803.144141
Sari, D., & Nugroho, W. (2021). Length of hospital stay and its impact on patient recovery motivation. Indonesian Journal of Nursing, 9(3), 130–137.
Tino, S., Kurniasih, E., & Wibowo, A. (2022). Hospital environment and its impact on stress among hospitalized patients. Journal of Health and Nursing, 8(2), 110–118.
Utami, N. (2023). Stress coping among hospitalized patients in regional hospitals. Journal of Health Psychology, 10(2), 75–82.
Wulandari, F., Setiawan, H., & Prasetyo, B. (2024). The relationship between length of stay and physiological stress responses in surgical patients. Journal of Medical Nursing, 11(1), 50–58.
Zamri, A. (2023). Factors associated with stress levels among hospitalized patients. Journal of Health and Nursing, 15(2), 90–97.
Zerlyfera, D., Yuliana, S., & Kurniawati, L. (2025). Psychological stress among postoperative patients in inpatient wards. Journal of Modern Nursing, 13(1), 29–36.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Professional Evidence-based Research and Advances in Wellness and Treatment
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
