RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Interactions between allied personnel and patients that occur during the provision of healthcare services may affect patient evaluations of the quality of medical care received. The many patients served and stresses faced every day by allied personnel may disturb their physical and psychological health and negatively affect their quality of life. PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to explore the association among stressful job-related events, physical data, and quality of life in allied personnel who work in outpatient departments. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used structured questionnaires and physical-data tests. The participants were recruited from a medical center in southern Taiwan. A total of 141 valid questionnaires were obtained, with a response rate of 88.1%. RESULTS: Larger differences between systolic and diastolic blood pressure and greater disturbed feelings toward stressful events were both associated with poorer quality of life in participants. Furthermore, the internal stressors related to the context of job and hospital sites impacted the quality of life of participants more than the external stressors related to patients or outsiders. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study may serve as a reference for nursing departments in medical institutions to establish contingency strategies for job stressful events and to enhance and promote the quality of life of allied personnel working in outpatient departments.