[Exposure to professional violence by young physicians in the hospital: MESSIAEN national study]

Work environment and mental health in nurse assistants, nurses and health executives: results from the AMADEUS study

AIM

To explore work environment and mental health in nurse assistants, nurses and health executives in a national large-scale study.

BACKGROUND

We have data for physicians but not for other healthcare workers categories.

METHODS

6935 participants were recruited between 2021 May and June by professional mailings and professional networks.

RESULTS

All professional categories reported high rates of high psychological demand (>90%), low social support (>60%) burnout (50 to 60%), exposure to potentially morally injurious events (>40%) depression (approximately 30%). Surgery nurses reported the highest exposure to potentially morally injurious events. Major depression was identified in approximately 30% of participants in all categories but less than 10% reported consuming antidepressants. 31 to 49% of participants reported sleep disorders and 16 to 21% reported consuming regularly hypnotics. Physicians reported high hazardous drinking behavior and nurse assistant high smoking rates.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

Our results suggest that preventing burnout and depression in healthcare workers is a priority. To reach this goal, nursing managers could develop some interventions to reduce psychological demand and increase personal accomplishment and social support between colleagues, prevent sustained bullying at the workplace and health risk behaviors. These interventions should be further developed and evaluated.

[Influence of the work environment on burn-out and depression in nurses]

Burn out is defined as a state of psychological exhaustion in the face of an unfavourable work environment. In the health sector, this includes, among other things, an excessive care burden, the lack of autonomy or control over work, the vicious circle of absenteeism, the lack of support, moral and sexual harassment, discrimination or the Covid-19 health crisis. Burn-out also increases the risk of depression among care workers.