Burnout syndrome among Hungarian midwives in 2014 and 2022

Abstract

Introduction: The healthcare sector is the most studied area of burnout, as the mental health of healthcare workers has a significant impact on the mental health of the people they care for. Objective: The aim of our study was to investigate whether there have been changes in the dimensions of burnout among midwives, and how the relationships between burnout and the individual factors and working conditions that influence it have evolved, using national data from 2014 and 2022. Method: An anonymous, voluntary, questionnaire-based survey of midwives working exclusively in maternity units was conducted using the Maslach Burnout Inventory questionnaire, which measures burnout, and questions on respondents demographic characteristics and working conditions. Multivariate ordinal logistic regression was used to explore associations between burnout and respondent characteristics, and associations were characterized by odds ratios. Results: Among the dimensions of burnout, no change in depersonalization was observed in 2022, but both emotional exhaustion and personal ineffectiveness were significantly more common in 2022 than in 2014. Responses from 224 midwives in 2014 and 152 midwives in 2022 were analyzed. Looking at the influencing factors, higher levels of burnout in 2014 were significantly associated with poorer perceived health, lack of a partner, smoking, shorter time in healthcare, having a job in a larger city, feeling overworked and dissatisfied. In 2022, on the other hand, younger age, smoking, shorter time in healthcare, feeling overworked, dissatisfied and unvalued were associated with higher levels of burnout. Looking at the combined effect of these factors, willingness to attend a health promotion lecture and having a second job also showed a significant effect on burnout in 2022. Discussion: The authors discuss the change in burnout among midwives and the possible reasons for the correlations shown. Conclusion: The results of the first study on burnout among midwives in Hungary show that improving the working conditions of midwives is essential for the functioning of family-friendly midwifery. In addition, to prevent burnout, more emphasis should be placed on the prevention of the risk factors identified in the study in education and training.