Publication:

A study to assess the level of occupational stress and associated factors during COVID-19 outbreak among police personnel at selected police stations, West Bengal

Background The importance of emergency services wouldn’t be significant to us if we had not faced this crisis namely, the COVID pandemic. Police service features a distinguished role to tackle this pandemic. This study aimed to assess level of occupational stress and associated factors during COVID-19 outbreak.

Methods A descriptive study was conducted among the police personnel of Durgapur subdivision. Occupational stress was measured using the organizational and operational police stress questionnaire and structured questionnaire for associated factors. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics.

Results 37% police personnel had reported High organizational stress, 55% and 8% as moderate and low organizational stress respectively and 57% police personnel had reported high operational stress, 43% as moderate operational stress during COVID-19 outbreak. Police personnel responded that there was an increased number of violent confrontations between the public and them while enforcing new regulations and restrictions. The majority of the participants having a fear of getting affected from co-worker, infecting family member and responded that they didn’t get enough supply of protective equipment. Organizational stress was significantly associated with educational status and designation. Operational stress was significantly associated with place of posting and COVID test report.

Conclusions This calls for urgent action from the officials as occupational stress can have extremely negative impact on their physical, mental and social health and wellbeing as well as professional life of police officers during this grim situation. There is a need for holistic support for their job satisfaction.