Fully developed burnout and burnout risk in intensive care personnel at a university hospital

Abstract

We assessed the prevalence of fully developed burnout, burnout risk and the influence of work and employment related factors in five intensive care units at a university hospital. A cross-sectional study was conducted using self-reporting questionnaires for the evaluation of the frequency and intensity of burnout syndrome (Maslach Burnout Inventory) and work and employment related factors. From a total of 320 eligible intensive care personnel, 33 physicians and 150 nurses participated in the study (59% response rate). Applying the process model for burnout, 63 participants (34.4%) were at risk for burnout and another 11 respondents (6.0%) revealed evidence of fully developed burnout (emotional exhaustion ≥4.0 and lack of personal accomplishment <4.0). No statistically significant difference in prevalence of fully developed burnout or burnout risk was detected in sub-groups according to age, gender, level of training, years of employment and family status. The desire to choose the same profession again was significantly less in respondents with fully developed burnout (P=0.006). The opportunity to regularly attend facilitation was significantly lower for participants with fully developed burnout (P=0.002) compared to participants with no burnout. Fully developed burnout and burnout risk are common in intensive care personnel. Support from facilitators appeared to be an important preventive factor.