Recovery experience and burnout in cancer workers in Queensland

Recovery Experiences Protect Emotionally Exhausted White-Collar Workers from Gaming Addiction

Gaming addiction and its negative consequences have attracted public concern, but relatively little is known regarding its impact on adult workers. This study aims to test the association between gaming addiction and emotional exhaustion as well as the protective effect of recovery experiences on such an association among white-collar workers. We recruited 205 working adults (female = 58%) who voluntarily completed an online questionnaire. The results showed that male and younger workers were more vulnerable to gaming addiction. Emotional exhaustion was significantly and positively associated, while two (i.e., relaxation and control) of the four recovery experiences were negatively correlated with gaming addiction. Control experience had an indirect effect on gaming addiction via emotional exhaustion. Moreover, relaxation experience buffered the risk effect of emotional exhaustion on gaming addiction so that the effect is less pronounced at high levels of relaxation. Interventions are suggested to raise workers' awareness of effective recovery experiences (especially for control and relaxation) and to facilitate their recovery opportunities.

Burnout on the frontline: the impact of COVID-19 on emergency department staff wellbeing

BACKGROUND

Burnout is a syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. Healthcare professionals are particularly susceptible to this occupational phenomenon. There is limited literature currently published addressing burnout in the context of the Irish frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVES

Our study aims to determine the rate and degree of burnout present in the emergency department (ED) staff at St. James hospital Dublin (SJH) and at Cork University Hospital (CUH), in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study was performed on a convenience sample of medical staff and healthcare staff in the ED at Cork University Hospital and St. James Hospital Dublin, two major University Hospital EDs. Burnout was measured using the Oldenburg burnout inventory (OLBI) a standardised 16-question instrument. Participants also provided demographic data and answered several questions relating to the pandemic.

PARTICIPANTS

Ninety-nine participants across two departments responded (a response rate of 30%). All ED cohorts were represented.

RESULTS

Burnout was identified in almost three quarters of respondents (74%). The mean burnout scores were 2.42 (OLBI cut-off 2.18). There was mean disengagement level of 2.25 and a mean exhaustion level of 2.59. There was no statistically significant variance between staff, by demographics (i.e. occupation, years working in the ED, age, or gender). There was no significant difference in burnout rates or scores between St. James Hospital, Dublin, and Cork University Hospital, though the former tended to have a higher rate of burnout at 81% vs the 67% burnout observed in CUH.

CONCLUSIONS

The COVID-19 pandemic may be contributing to the long-established problem of health care burnout. The trajectory of this disease is still unclear. Consistent, progressive measures to address staff well-being, and support frontline workers, are imperative going forward.

Prevalence of burnout and predictive factors among oncology nursing professionals: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Burnout is a syndrome that mostly affects professionals working in contact with patients and their caregivers. In oncology care, nursing professionals are constantly required to provide emotional support for patients and their caregivers, throughout the process of becoming ill, suffering and dying.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the prevalence and factors associated with burnout in a sample of nursing professionals at a cancer hospital.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Cross-sectional study conducted at Hospital de Câncer de Barretos.

METHODS

The study population comprised 655 nursing professionals. Burnout syndrome was assessed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Service Survey. Univariate analysis and binary logistic regression models were used to identify independent predictors associated with burnout.

RESULTS

Among 304 nursing professionals included in the study, 27 (8.9%) were classified as presenting burnout according to the two-dimensional criteria, and four (1.3%) were classified based on the three-dimensional criteria. Workplace characteristics were not associated with burnout, while single marital status (odds ratio, OR = 2.695; P = 0.037), perceived workplace stressors, such as impatience with colleagues (OR = 3.996; P = 0.007) and melancholy (OR = 2.840; P = 0.021) were considered to be predictors of burnout. Nursing professionals who would choose the profession again (OR = 0.214; P = 0.001) were least likely to present burnout.

CONCLUSION

Perceived workplace stressors are strongly associated with burnout. Strategies focusing on restructuring of daily work processes and on activities that stimulate positive relationships are important for professionals' health because motivation to continue working in oncology nursing has a protective effect against burnout.

Recovery Experience: A Concept for Maintaining Quality of Life and Its Mediating Effect Among Female Nurses in China

Purpose

Nurses are high-risk groups for job burnout, which affect their quality of life (QOL). Recovery experience, a conceptualization of positive psychological resources, can combat the negative impacts of job burnout on health and QOL. The aim of this study was to examine the mediating effect of recovery experience on the relationship between job burnout and QOL among female nurses in China.

Participants and Methods

QOL information was captured from 1068 female nurses from December 2017 to February 2018 in tertiary hospitals in Shenyang, Liaoning Province of China. A structural equation model was employed to examine the mediating effect of recovery experience on the relationship between job burnout and QOL.

Results

Job burnout had a significant impact on both the mental component summary and the physical component summary of a 36-item Short-Form Health Survey. However, mental component summary scores were significantly lower than physical component summary scores in female nurses. Recovery experience played a mediating role in the relationship between job burnout and QOL.

Conclusion

Job burnout could result in a reduction in QOL among Chinese female nurses. Recovery experience, as a mediating factor, could alleviate the impact of job burnout on QOL. Recovery experience should be strengthened to attenuate job burnout and enhance QOL.

Recovery experiences mediate the effect of burnout on life satisfaction among Chinese physicians: a structural equation modeling analysis

PURPOSE

Recovery experiences not only make it possible for individuals to restore their energy resources and return to pre-stressor levels but also contribute to the formation of their subjective well-being. This paper investigates the effect of burnout on life satisfaction among Chinese physicians who are frequently confronted with a considerable number of work-related stressors and examines the mediating role of recovery experiences in the relationship between burnout and life satisfaction.

METHODS

A total of 642 physicians working in five public tertiary hospitals in China responded to a self-administered questionnaire including demographic information, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Scale, and the Recovery Experience Questionnaire. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was conducted to test the incremental variance of any given set of independent variables. Structural equation modeling was employed to test the presumed relationships between variables involved. Asymptotic and resampling strategies were used to examine the mediating effects of recovery experiences in the relationship between burnout and life satisfaction.

RESULTS

Burnout and recovery experiences were important predictors of life satisfaction and the direct effect of burnout on life satisfaction was statistically significant and negative and the path coefficients of burnout with life satisfaction were significantly decreased when recovery experiences were modeled as mediators.

CONCLUSION

Findings of the study highlight the importance of promoting recovery experiences to reduce burnout and improve life satisfaction among physicians rather than focusing on the less easily modifiable work-related stressors.

Validation of the Nepalese version of Recovery Experience Questionnaire

People with stressful situations tend to experience lower psychological well-being highlighting the importance of involvement in activities or strategies that have the potential to promote recovery after stressful work situations. This study aimed to validate the Nepalese version of the Recovery Experience Questionnaire (REQ-N), which evaluates how individuals unwind and recuperate from work in their leisure time. Registered nurses of three university hospitals (N = 438) in Nepal were asked to complete the REQ-N voluntarily and the data was analyzed using SPSS-20 and AMOS. Reliability was examined by using the Cronbach alpha coefficient. Factorial validity was examined by using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Convergent validity was examined by examining the relationships with psychological distress, overall health, happiness, job performance and job satisfaction. Cronbach's alpha coefficients for four subscales ranged from 0.67 to 0.70. A hypothesized four-factor model fitted better to the data. As expected, mastery and control subscales correlated with psychological distress, overall health, happiness, job performance, and job satisfaction. However, psychological detachment subscale correlated with poor health and relaxation subscale correlated with low job satisfaction. The REQ-N displayed an acceptable level of internal-consistency reliability. The theory-based four-factor structure and the association with psychological distress, overall health, happiness, job performance and job satisfaction for mastery and control experience subscales supported the construct validity (including factor-based validity). However, some of the model fit statistics could not meet the minimum recommendations suggesting a need of a large study involving a heterogeneous population. Also, unexpected findings for psychological detachment and relaxation may reflect the culture and values of Nepalese people and need further research.

Recovery Experience as the Mediating Factor in the Relationship Between Sleep Disturbance and Depressive Symptoms Among Female Nurses in Chinese Public Hospitals: A Structural Equation Modeling Analysis

Purpose

Nurses are suffering from considerable work-related stress, which can result in disturbed sleep and depressive symptoms. Whereas, recovery experience can alleviate sleep disturbance and help maintain well-being in the working environment. The aim of this study was to examine whether recovery experiences play a mediating role in the relationship between sleep disturbance and depressive symptoms of female nurses in Chinese public hospitals.

Methods

From December 2017 to May 2018, the study with proportional sampling of cross-sectional design was carried out in the public tertiary hospitals from Shenyang of Liaoning Province in China. A total of 1500 female nurses who had been working for one or more years participated in this study. A structural equation model (SEM) was applied to test the assumption that recovery experiences might function as a mediator in the relationship between sleep disturbance and symptoms of depression.

Results

Sleep disturbance contributed most to the variance (32.9%) of depressive symptoms and had a significantly positive correlation with depressive symptoms (P<0.01) among nurses. Psychological detachment in recovery experience had a significantly positive correlation with sleep disturbance (P<0.01) and depressive symptoms (P<0.01). Whereas, relaxation, mastery experience, and control in recovery experience were significantly and negatively correlated with sleep disturbance (P<0.01) and depressive symptoms (P<0.01). Recovery experience served as a mediator between sleep disturbance and depressive symptoms (a * b = 0.066, BCa 95% CI: 0.045, 0.095).

Conclusion

Sleep disturbance was the predictor of depressive symptoms for female nurses. Moreover, recovery experience could combat the detrimental impacts of sleep disturbances on symptoms of depression. This study suggested that nurses might benefit from interventions on improving sleep quality to relieve depressive symptoms through mediating path of recovery experience.

Patient-related stressful situations and stress-related outcomes in emergency nurses: A cross-sectional study on the role of work factors and recovery during leisure time

BACKGROUND

Emergency nurses are frequently exposed to patient-related stressful situations, making them susceptible to emotional exhaustion and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. The current study aims to assess differential effects of patient-related stressful situations (emotionally demanding situations, aggression/conflict situations, and critical events) on stress-related outcomes in emergency nurses, and to identify moderating factors based on the Job Demands-Resources model and the Effort-Recovery model (job demands, job resources, and recovery experiences during leisure time).

METHOD

A cross-sectional study was carried out among nurses working in the emergency departments of 19 hospitals in the Netherlands (N = 692, response rate 73%). Data were collected by means of an online survey. Multiple hierarchical regression analyses were performed, controlling for sociodemographic variables.

RESULTS

The frequency of exposure to patient-related stressful situations was positively related to stress-related outcomes, with emotionally demanding situations and aggression/conflict situations mainly explaining variance in emotional exhaustion (β = 0.16, p < .01, ∆R² = 0.08, and β = 0.22, p < .01, ∆R² = 0.13), whereas critical events mainly explained variance in post-traumatic stress symptoms (β = 0.29, p < .01, ∆R² = 0.11). Moderating effects were found for within worktime recovery and recovery during leisure time. Work-time demands, autonomy and social support from the supervisor were predictive of stress-related outcomes irrespectively of exposure to patient-related stressful situations.

CONCLUSION

As patient-related stressful situations are difficult if not impossible to reduce in an emergency department setting, the findings suggest it would be worthwhile to stimulate within worktime recovery as well as recovery experiences during leisure time, to protect emergency nurses from emotional exhaustion and symptoms of post-traumatic stress. Furthermore, this study underscores the importance of reducing work-time demands and enhancing job resources to address stress-related outcomes in emergency nurses. Practical implications, strengths and limitations are discussed.

Burnout in the Emergency Department hospital staff at Cork University Hospital

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Healthcare professionals are exposed to high levels of stress in the course of their profession and are particularly susceptible to experiencing burnout. In the USA, burnout among physicians is highly prevalent, exceeding that of other workers. Little literature has been published describing burnout prevalence in the context of the Irish emergency healthcare population. We conducted a survey to determine burnout in the Emergency Department hospital staff at Cork University Hospital (CUH).

METHODS

This is a prospective inclusive cross-sectional study assessing burnout with the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI). Over 90 staff (physicians, nurses, administrators, radiographers, care assistants, and porters) participated. Provider demographic differences were documented and comparisons of burnout were made between this study population and previous international studies.

RESULTS

Sixty-three percent of administrators (8), 100% of care assistants (3), 78% of nurses (50), 70% of physicians (23), 67% of porters (3), and 80% of radiographers (10) met the criteria for burnout (75% overall). Burnout was significantly associated with a history of depression (p = 0.030). The burnout rates were not significantly different between professions (p = 0.77), age groups (p = 0.078), years working in the ED (p = 0.16), or gender (p = 0.46).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

Burnout is very common in the Emergency Department at CUH. Approximately three out of four staff met the cutoff for burnout. Self-reported depression was also significantly associated with burnout.