Chronic fatigue of nurses in view of the challenges of contemporary psychiatric care. Do temperament and work environment matter?

Abstract

Aim. The objective of this study was to identify the level of chronic fatigue in the group of psychiatric nurses and to determine the relationship between working environment conditions and temperament, and the chronic fatigue syndrome in the group of psychiatric nurses. Material and methods. 85 nurses from psychiatric treatment centers were subjected to the study. In this study a revised version of the Formal Characteristics of Behavior – Temperament Inventory (FCB-TI), CIS 20R (Checklist Individual Strength) Questionnaire, and a personal questionnaire regarding the working environment characteristics were applied. Results. In the most numerous group of patients, the occurrence of chronic fatigue was found to be moderate (48.23% of respondents) and high (47.05%). Endurance as a trait of temperament is important for analyzing differences in chronic fatigue in the group of psychiatric nurses. In the studied group, difficulties in relations between nurses are correlates of reduction in concentration, reduction of motivation and they affect the overall result of chronic fatigue. The frequency of receiving contradictory instructions from staff and the state of information flow in the team are correlated with the reduction in concentration. Conclusions. The results indicate a high prevalence of chronic fatigue. Factors related to the working environment that concern cooperation and communication among the staff perform a significant role in the development of chronic fatigue in psychiatric nurses. Further research on this issue is necessary in view of observable problems in the psychiatric care organizational structures.