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Psychosocial work environment and burnout among emergency medical and nursing staff

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Abstract

Objectives: The prevalence of burnout syndrome is increasing among doctors and nurses. The aim of this study was to analyse the relationship between the psychosocial work environment and burnout syndrome among emergency medical and nursing staff in Spain. A secondary aim was to determine if the effect of this psychosocial work environment on burnout was different for doctors and nurses. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out by means of a mail questionnaire among 945 emergency doctors and nursing staff of Spain. The outcome variable was three dimensions of burnout syndrome [emotional exhaustion (EE), personal accomplishment (PA), depersonalisation (DP)]. The explanatory variable was that psychosocial work environment evaluated according to Karasek and Johnson’s demand-control model. The adjusted odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals were calculated by logistical regression. Results: The probability of high EE was greater among those exposed to high psychological demands, OR 4.66 (2.75–7.90), low job control, OR 1.65 (1.04–2.63), and low supervisors’ social support, OR 1.64 (1.01–2.59). Emotional exhaustion dimension was negatively influenced by low control only among doctors. Those exposed to low job control had a higher risk of low PA, OR 2.55 (1.66–3.94). There was no evidence of negative effect of psychosocial risk factors on the DP. Prevalence of EE and PA was higher among doctors and nurses. Conclusions: The presence of risk factors derived from work organisation within the work place (psychosocial risk factors) increases the probability of presenting burnout syndrome and, above all, EE.

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Acknowledgments

Study partially financed by five research grants: two from “Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias” (Ministry of Health) (99/0704 and 00/0686)”, one from “Instituto de Salud Carlos III”: Gender and Health Network (G03/42) and two from “Conselleria de Sanitat. Generalitat Valenciana” (11/2000 and 2001).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gender and Health Network (RIGS), Valencia, Spain

    V. Escribà-Agüir & D. Martín-Baena

  2. Valencian School for Health Studies (Regional Ministry of Health), “Generalitat Valenciana”, Valencia, Spain

    V. Escribà-Agüir, D. Martín-Baena & S. Pérez-Hoyos

  3. Community Nursing and Public Health Department, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain

    S. Pérez-Hoyos

  4. C/ Juan de Garay, 21, 46017, Valencia, Spain

    V. Escribà-Agüir

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  1. V. Escribà-Agüir
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  2. D. Martín-Baena
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  3. S. Pérez-Hoyos
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Correspondence to V. Escribà-Agüir.

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Escribà-Agüir, V., Martín-Baena, D. & Pérez-Hoyos, S. Psychosocial work environment and burnout among emergency medical and nursing staff. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 80, 127–133 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-006-0110-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-006-0110-y

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