Burnout Status at Work among Health Care Professionals in aTertiary Hospital

Abstract

Background: Burnout is a physical, physiological and psychological stress reaction syndrome Caused by long-term exposure to intense work-related emotional and interpersonal pressures. There is no evidence on the issue in Ethiopian setting.

Methods: An institution based cross-sectional study design was conducted on 403 health care providers. Burnout was detected using Copenhagen’s burnout inventory tool. Other structured questionnaire on work-related condition and substance use habits was used to collect data. Binary logistic regression was used to identify the associated factors of burnout at work.

Result: Of all the study participants, 36.7% scored above the mean level of burnout. Highest prevalence (82.8%) of burnout status was found among nurses. The least prevalence of burnout was observed among laboratory technicians which was 2.8% (n=4). Job insecurity, history of physical illness, low interest in profession, poor relationship status with managers, worry of contracting infection or illness and physical/verbal abuse were found to be predictors of burnout.

Conclusion: The prevalence of burnout at work was found to be high. The predictors were job insecurity, history of physical illness, low interest in profession, poor relationship status with managers, worry of contracting infection or illness and physical/verbal abuse.

Keywords: Burnout, Health professionals, Occupational health, Work related factors