Emilia I. de la Fuente

Risk factors and prevalence of burnout syndrome in the nursing profession

BACKGROUND The burnout syndrome is beginning to be regarded as an occupational illness of high prevalence among nursing in Spain. Individuals suffering from the syndrome manifest important health problems. More information about prevalence and risk factors for burnout is needed to prevent the syndrome and to determine the most appropriate clinical interventions when the disorder appears. OBJECTIVES Burnout levels were evaluated in a group of nurses. The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of burnout, to identify the variables related to burnout and to propose a risk profile for this syndrome among the nursing personnel. SETTING The study was carried out in public health centers in Andalusia (Spain). METHODS The sample consisted of 676 nursing professionals from public health centers. Dependent variables were the three Burnout dimensions: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and personal accomplishment. Independent variables were socio-demographic, organizational, personality-related variables. RESULTS The nurses manifested average to high burnout levels. There were statistically significant differences in burnout levels associated with the following variables: age, gender, marital status, having children, level of healthcare, type of work shift, healthcare service areas and conducting administrative tasks. Burnout was also associated with personality-related variables. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of burnout among nursing professionals is high. Gender, age, marital status, level of healthcare, work shift and healthcare service areas predicted at least one of the dimensions of the syndrome. Neuroticism, agreeability, extraversion and conscientiousness are personality traits that predict at least two of the dimensions of burnout syndrome in nurses. Therefore, personality factors should be considered in any theory of risk profiles for developing burnout syndrome in the nursing profession.

Which occupational risk factors are associated with burnout in nursing? A meta-analytic study

Numerous empirical studies have suggested a link between occupational factors and the burnout syndrome. The effect sizes of the association reported vary widely in nursing professionals. The objective of this research was to assess the influence of five occupational factors (job seniority, professional experience, job satisfaction, specialization and work shift) on the three burnout dimensions (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and personal accomplishment) in nursing. We conducted a meta-analysis with a total of 81 studies met to our inclusion criteria: 31 on job seniority; 29 on professional experience; 37 on job satisfaction; 4 on specialization; and 6 on work shift. The mean effect sizes found suggest that job satisfaction and, to a lesser extent, specialization were important factors influencing the burnout syndrome. The heterogeneity analysis showed that there was a great variability in all the estimates of the mean effect size. Various moderators were found to be significant in explaining the association between occupational factors and burnout. In conclusion, it is important to prevent the substantive moderators that are influencing these associations. The improved methodological variables explain most of the contradictory results found in previous research on this field.

Age as a Risk Factor for Burnout Syndrome in Nursing Professionals: A Meta-Analytic Study

Although past research has highlighted the possibility of a direct relationship between the age of nursing professionals and burnout syndrome, results have been far from conclusive. The aim of this study was to conduct a wider analysis of the influence of age on the three dimensions of burnout syndrome (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment) in nurses. We performed a meta-analysis of 51 publications extracted from health sciences and psychology databases that fulfilled the inclusion criteria. There were 47 reports of information on emotional exhaustion in 50 samples, 39 reports on depersonalization for 42 samples, and 31 reports on personal accomplishment in 34 samples. The mean effect sizes indicated that younger age was a significant factor in the emotional exhaustion and depersonalization of nurses, although it was somewhat less influential in the dimension of personal accomplishment. Because of heterogeneity in the effect sizes, moderating variables that might explain the association between age and burnout were also analyzed. Gender, marital status, and study characteristics moderated the relationship between age and burnout and may be crucial for the identification of high-risk groups. More research is needed on other variables for which there were only a small number of studies. Identification of burnout risk factors will facilitate establishment of burnout prevention programs for nurses.

Development and validation of the Granada Burnout Questionnaire in Spanish police

The goal of the present study is to develop a questionnaire, with proper psychometric properties and current norms, to evaluate the burnout syndrome in Spain. The operative definition of burnout proposed by Maslach and Jackson is used to define three dimensions (Emotional exhaustion, Depersonalization and Personal accomplishment). A total of 2,403 national Spanish police participated. Evidence of construct validity was checked through cross validation (showing a good fit of the three factors model to the data). Using the MBI, NEO-FII and CECAD evidence of convergent validity and criteria validity were developed (showing that the relations are similar to the ones that appear in other research). The discrimination, mean, standard deviation, and typical error of the average of the items composing the various dimensions were analyzed. Both the Cronbach´s alpha coefficient and the conditional standard error of measurement (CSEM) were calculated for each of the dimensions. The results showed good internal consistency (all ? values > .85). Finally, the questionnaire was scaled using T scores. The psychometrical properties reported here support the use of this new questionnaire for the burnout evaluation in Spanish police.

Evidencia de validez factorial del Maslach Burnout Inventory y estudio de los niveles de burnout en profesionales sanitarios

En el presente trabajo se quieren conocer los niveles de burnout y variables relacionadas con el sindrome en un grupo de profesionales sanitarios. Los objetivos de la investigacion fueron la obtencion de evidencias de validez factorial del Maslach Burnout Inventory, la estimacion de la prevalencia y la identificacion de factores de riesgo de burnout en un grupo de profesionales sanitarios. Se realizo un estudio transversal, cuantitativo y exploratorio. Los datos corresponden a una muestra de 435 profesionales que incluye auxiliares, enfermeros y medicos. Los resultados obtenidos indican un adecuado ajuste en la estructura trifactorial del Maslach Burnout Inventory; asimismo, se ha obtenido que la categoria profesional, edad y tipo de dedicacion son factores de riesgo de padecimiento de burnout. Por otra parte, se obtiene que los enfermeros presentaban niveles de burnout mas altos que el resto de grupos profesionales considerados. Lo anterior sugiere que los factores indicados deben ser tenidos en cuenta en la implantacion de programas encaminados a la prevencion del desarrollo del sindrome

Psychometric properties and scales of the Granada Burnout Questionnaire applied to nurses

Nurses are an occupational group with extremely high levels of burnout. The most accepted definition of the burnout syndrome was proposed by Maslach and Jackson, who characterized it in terms of three dimensions: (i) Emotional Exhaustion; (ii) Depersonalization; (iii) Personal Accomplishment. This definition was the basis for the Granada Burnout Questionnaire (GBQ). The objective of this research was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the GBQ and to elaborate an evaluation scale to measure burnout in nursing professionals in Spain. A total of 1,177 nurses participated in this study and successfully completed the GBQ. Evidence of construct validity was verified by cross-validation and convergent validity, and evidence of criteria validity was checked by concurrent validity. Cronbachs alpha was used to measure internal consistency. The results obtained in our study show satisfactory fit values in the confirmatory factor analysis and in the evidence of convergent and concurrent validity. All of the Cronbach alpha values were greater than .83. This signifies that the GBQ has good psychometric properties that are applicable to nurses. For this purpose a scale of T-scores and centiles was created that permitted the evaluation of burnout in Spanish nursing professionals.

Bayesian estimation of the prevalence of suicide risk in institutionalized older people.

The assessment of suicide risk in institutionalized older people has received less attention in comparison with those not institutionalized. The studies carried out show contradictory data on the prevalence of risk in this population group. The current work estimates the prevalence of suicide risk through a Bayesian analysis and studies the risk factors of this behavior in a group of 110 institutionalized older people. A prevalence of 38.4% is obtained, and an association between suicide risk and the factors depression and perception of health. The results indicate to us the necessity for actions directed at decreasing the suicide rate in geriatric homes.

Hypothesis Probability or Statistical Significance

After almost a century of debate among renowned statisticians, 21st century traditional Statistical Inference is marked by controversy over the application of the procedures for hypothesis estimation and contrast. The aim of this paper is twofold: First, to present various debatable issues that arise when the mean in a Normal distribution of known precision is contrasted and second, to argue the suitability of Bayesian philosophy for the analysis of research data.

Psychosocial Variables in the Determination of the Verdict Object in Trials for Environmental Crimes in Spain

Every year, 45,000 forest fires occur in Europe, destroying a forested surface area equivalent to the size of Belgium. Nearly 60% of the forest fires have been ascribed to arson, and for this reason the so-called environmental crime has been included in the legal codes of the members of the European Union. For instance, in Spain forest fires are objects of prosecution in a court of law. This study analyzes the following variables: conservatism, dogmatism, locus of control, attitude toward the legal system, factors from the short Neuroticism Extraversion Openness Inventory (responsibility, openness, extraversion, and kindness), specific variables in the particular cases proposed (forest fires), and attitude toward the protection and improvement of the environment. The specific variables used in each case may help in better delineating verdict trends.

Prevalence of burnout in paediatric nurses: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction Although burnout in paediatric nurses has been addressed in previous research, the heterogeneous nature of the results obtained and of the variables studied highlights the need for a detailed analysis of the literature. Objective The aim of this study was to analyse the literature on burnout characteristics, reported prevalence, severity and risk factors, to achieve a better understanding of the risk of emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and feelings of low personal accomplishment. Method For this purpose, we carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature. The databases consulted were CINAHL, LILACS, PubMed, the Proquest Platform (Proquest Health & Medical Complete), Scielo and Scopus. This study used the search equation “burnout AND “pediatric nurs*””, and was conducted in July 2017. Results The search produced 34 studies targeting burnout in paediatric nurses, with no restrictions on the date of publication. Many of these studies detected moderate-high values for the three dimensions of burnout, and highlighted sociodemographic, psychological and job-related variables associated with this syndrome. The sample population for the meta-analysis was composed of 1600 paediatric nurses. The following prevalence values were obtained: (i) emotional exhaustion, 31% (95% CI: 25–37%); (ii) depersonalisation, 21% (95% CI: 11–33%); (iii) low personal accomplishment, 39% (95% CI: 28–50%). Conclusions A significant number of paediatric nurses were found to have moderate-high levels of emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation, and low levels of personal accomplishment. These nurses, therefore, were either experiencing burnout or at high risk of suffering it in the future. These results support the need for further study of the risk factors for burnout in paediatric nurses. They also highlight the importance of developing interventions or therapies to help prevent or attenuate the above symptoms, thus helping nurses cope with the workplace environment and with situations that may lead to burnout.