Burnout in healthcare workers: The effect of stress of conscience

PURPOSE

The stress of conscience occurs in stressful situations that are often encountered in healthcare, leading to an uncomfortable conscience in healthcare workers. They may not be able to control their emotions and feel burnout. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of stress of conscience on burnout in healthcare workers.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was performed with 602 healthcare workers between November 2020 and January 2021 in Turkey. Data were collected using a sociodemographic form, Stress of Conscience Scale, and Maslach Burnout Inventory.

RESULTS

A positive and high-level relationship was found between the stress of conscience and burnout (r = 0.603, p < 0.001). The stress of conscience accounted for 36% of burnout. Also, female healthcare workers have high stress of conscience and burnout scores.

CONCLUSION

This study is important in terms of realising the stress and burnout of healthcare workers and for health managers to recognise the stress types of their workers. The increase in the level of burnout of healthcare workers is associated with their stress of conscience. Using the results of this study, national and international consensus can be obtained to reduce the impact of the stress of conscience on healthcare workers.

The impact of the education program based on dimensions of quality of work life among emergency medical services providers

BACKGROUND

Quality of work life is a vital factor for health care providers. This study aimed to determine the impact of the education program based on dimensions of quality of work life among emergency medical services employees.

METHODS

The quasi-experimental study was conducted on 100 emergency medical services employees in Tehran, Iran, who were chosen using a convenience sampling method (50 in the intervention group and 50 in the control group). The information was gathered using a Demographic Questionnaire and a Walton Quality of Work Life Questionnaire with eight dimensions. The research was carried out in three stages: design, implementation, and evaluation of the education program. During the design phase, the educational needs of the participants were determined in terms of the dimensions of the quality of work life and work and total living space. The education program on work-life quality was implemented in four virtual group sessions, emphasizing the educational needs identified through uploading educational content to the WhatsApp application. The evaluation was conducted in two stages: before the education program and three months after the program. With a significance level of 0.05, the data was analyzed using SPSS version 24 software.

RESULTS

The results revealed that an education program on the quality of work life and its dimensions, emphasizing strategies to improve work and total living space, can improve the score of this dimension in the intra-group comparison of both the intervention and control groups (p = 0.046), as well as in the inter-group comparison, at the three-month post-intervention stage, there is a significant difference and a significant increase (p = 0.030), but it does not have a significant effect on the quality of work life and its other dimensions.

CONCLUSION

It is recommended that emergency medical services managers plan to improve the quality of working life of their employees, particularly in terms of work and total living space.

The effect of the intensive care unit nurse manpower on care behaviours and stress level on the nurses

BACKGROUND

Nurses working in the intensive care units (ICU) regarding the work-index-nursing work environment, the effect level ICU environment has on the nurses' care behaviors and stress levels of the nurses should be determined.

OBJECTIVE

The study aimed to investigate the effect of the nurse manpower on care behaviours and stress level of the nurses working in the ICU.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional and correlational study. The sample of the study consisted of 123 nurses working in the ICUs. The data were collected using the survey form, Distress Thermometer (DT), The Practice Work Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index (PES-NWI), and Caring Behaviors Scale-24 (CBS-24).

RESULTS

The mean age of nurses in the ICU was 30.2±5.6 and the mean of working time in the intensive care unit of nurses in the ICU was 3.7±3.1 years. The mean of the DT was 4.8±3.4, and the mean score of PES-NWI was 2.6±1.0 and the mean score of CBS-24 was 4.7±1.1 in nurses in the ICU. The regression model which was studied to investigate the relationship between caring behaviors and stress and nurse manpower of nurses working in intensive care unit was significant.

CONCLUSION

Care behaviors and stress levels of nurses working in intensive care units are negatively affected by insufficient nurse manpower.

Work alienation and quality of work life among nurses: A descriptive cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Work alienation in nursing can create various problems that affect the quality of work life of nurses, which should be addressed from different perspectives.

AIMS

This study investigated the relationship between work alienation and the quality of work life, aiming to determine the factors affecting nurses' quality of work life.

DESIGN

This is a descriptive and cross-sectional study that used the STROBE guidelines to prepare this study report.

METHODS

The study was conducted between March and June 2022 in Turkey with 303 nurses. It used an online questionnaire with a simple random sampling. Data were collected using a descriptive characteristics form, the Work Alienation Scale, and the Quality of Nursing Work Life Scale. The data were analyzed with Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis.

RESULTS

There was a significant negative correlation between work alienation and the quality of work life. Four independent variables with 58.2% impact on the nurses' quality of work life were identified, including participation in the decision-making process, the ability to use initiative during the production of the service, the significance of the work for the individual, and the type of institution.

CONCLUSIONS

The nurses' work alienation score was moderate, and their quality of work life score was high. An increase in the feeling of work alienation statistically decreased the quality of work life.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING AND HEALTH POLICY

Nurses who experience work alienation may face a decline in their quality of work life that may have an adverse effect on their work performance and work satisfaction.

Factors affecting the quality of working life among nurses caring for Syrian refugee camps in Jordan

OBJECTIVES

The global refugee crisis, exacerbated by the Syrian war, has placed tremendous strain on Jordan's healthcare system and infrastructure, notably impacting nurses working in refugee camps. The aim to identify factors influencing nurses' Quality of life at work (QWL) and understand their significance in crisis healthcare environments.

METHODOLOGY

A cross-sectional study was conducted in multiple healthcare facilities within Syrian refugee camps. A convenient sample of 166 nurses participated, and data were collected using the Brook's Quality of Nursing Work Life Survey. Data analysis included descriptive and inferential (one-way ANOVA) statistics. Significance level was set at 0.05.

RESULTS

Nurses in this study generally reported a moderate QWL, with an average score of 152.85, indicating that their overall work experience falls into the moderate range. The study found that nurses perceived their work-life/home-life balance (mean score 25.79), work design (mean score 35.71), work context (mean score 71.37), and work world (mean score 19.96) at levels indicative of moderate satisfaction. There were no statistically significant differences in QWL among participating nurses, suggesting that factors other than demographic characteristics may play a more influential role in determining nurses' QWL in the unique context of refugee caregiving.

CONCLUSION

This study underscores that working within refugee healthcare missions and recommends targeted interventions to enhance their well-being.

Effect of depressive symptoms on quality of work life in female nurses: a cross-sectional study using propensity score matching

Background

Female nurses have been considered as a vulnerable population in the context of mental health, due to the nature of their work, which can be stressful and emotionally taxing. Understanding the relationship between depressive symptoms and quality of work life (QWL) can contribute to improving mental health and job performance. However, limited studies have focused on the effect of depressive symptoms on QWL in female nurses.

Objectives

The present study aimed to assess the effect of depressive symptoms on female nurses' QWL using propensity score matching (PSM).

Methods

A cross-sectional, online study using convenience sampling was conducted among 1,401 female nurses in China. PSM was used to minimize the impact of potential confounders between no depressive symptoms and depressive symptoms. Stepwise multiple linear regression analyses were performed on the PSM samples to explore the effects of depressive symptoms on the QWL.

Results

The results revealed there were 33.5% of the female nurses reported depressive symptoms before PSM. And female nurses in this study had a moderate level of QWL before PSM (122.11 ± 18.15), which remained steady after PSM (118.33 ± 18.04). After PSM, the final sample contained 864 female nurses. Stepwise multiple linear regression results indicated that depressive symptoms were the most strongly associated with QWL (β = -0.454, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

This study highlights the importance of developing mental health plans and psychological interventions for female nurses to maintain mental health and QWL, which is critical to the nursing workforce's sustainability.

Quality of work-life and coping strategies of nurse educators and clinicians in COVID-19: A cross-sectional study

The study compared perceived differences in Quality of Work-Life (QoWL) among nurse clinicians and educators and coping strategies used by nurses.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study.

METHODS

From August and November 2020, the study measured the QoWL and coping strategies of 360 nurses with two scales using a multi-stage sampling technique. The data were analysed with descriptive, Pearson correlation and multivariate linear regression analyses.

RESULTS

Quality of Work-Life was generally low among nurses; nurse educators, however, had better QoWL than clinical nurses. Age, salary and nature of work predicted the QoWL of nurses. Work-family segmentation, seeking assistance, open communication and recreational activities were employed by most nurses to cope with challenges. With the rate of workload and work-related stress associated with COVID-19, nurse leaders must advocate for evidence-based coping strategies to deal with work and family life stress.

A formative measurement model and development of quality of work-life scale based on two-factor theory: evidence from Indian private industries

Purpose

This study examines the quality of work-life (QoWL) as a formative construct and validates the scale in an Indian context. Taking a cue from the two-factor (Herzberg) theory, the study developed and validated a formative assessment model of QoWL in the current scenario.

Design/methodology/approach

Cross-sectional data and a self-administered questionnaire were used to analyze the QoWL scale based on a sample of 841 respondents from IT/ITES, BFSI, CPG and manufacturing sectors. Indicators/items of QoWL were considered a first-order reflective construct, and factors of QoWL were considered second-order formative construct in the study. Embedded two-stage approach was used to assess the antecedent construct in the model in which QoWL was measured with seven formative indicators in stage one, and all the constructs of the QoWL are measured with a single item (Global_QWL, i.e. the essence of all constructs) in stage two.

Findings

The study found QoWL as a formative construct with seven significant dimensions; namely, hygiene factors included fairness in compensation (FC), job security (JS), interpersonal relationship (IR), health and wellbeing (HWB), where motivational factors had rewards and career growth (RG), work-life balance (WLB) and learning and development (LD). The study also indicated the strong association of a single item (global_QWL) with all constructs of QoWL. The study findings conceptualize a QoWL as a formative construct within the mentioned sector and can be generalized and extended to other sectors of the economy as well.

Research limitations/implications

Future researchers can take guidance to deal with the formative construct in the development and validation of scale in various topics in the field of HRM. Future researchers can extend the study across cities and different sectors.

Practical implications

In this VUCA world, employees have to be constantly on their toes to ensure their organization remains relevant. In this context, the least organization can do for their employees is to offer a conducive environment and favorable QoWL. This study aims to assist the key decision-makers in applying the QoWL index as a formative construct and aiding them in improving the quality of their decisions.

Social implications

Researcher believes that applying the QoWL index as a formative construct can aid decision-makers in improving the quality of their decisions by equipping them with relevant inputs and knowledge. Government can focus on the employees' welfare and introduce the current motivational and hygiene factors in the area of quality of life of the Indians.

Originality/value

Formative assessment measurement of QoWL model was validated with the two-factor theory to understand the work environment of India in the private sector across different sectors. The unique finding of the study was a single item (global_QWL) to conclude the QoWL index as a formative construct by redundancy analysis.

Psychological Distress and Work-Related Quality of Life Among Oncology Nurses During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Oncology nurses are at disproportionate risk for psychological distress because they often encounter ethical challenges and deaths while providing care. Exposures to emergent suffering during the COVID-19 pandemic compound their chronic distress, which likely increased their vulnerability to psychological distress and may increase their risk for reduced work-related quality of life (WRQOL).

OBJECTIVES

This study examined the association between psychological distress and WRQOL among oncology nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

A cross-sectional analysis of psychological distress and WRQOL among oncology nurses (N = 63) was conducted.

FINDINGS

The mean Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale score was 33.4, showing low depression levels, mild anxiety, and mild stress. The mean PTSD score was 29.3, and the mean WRQOL Scale score was 78.8. Depression, anxiety, and stress were strongly correlated to PTSD, and WRQOL was negatively correlated to PTSD, depression, anxiety, and stress.