Age as a Risk Factor for Burnout Syndrome in Nursing Professionals: A Meta-Analytic Study.

Although past research has highlighted the possibility of a direct relationship between the age of nursing professionals and burnout syndrome, results have been far from conclusive. The aim of this study was to conduct a wider analysis of the influence of age on the three dimensions of burnout syndrome (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment) in nurses. We performed a meta-analysis of 51 publications extracted from health sciences and psychology databases that fulfilled the inclusion criteria. There were 47 reports of information on emotional exhaustion in 50 samples, 39 reports on depersonalization for 42 samples, and 31 reports on personal accomplishment in 34 samples. The mean effect sizes indicated that younger age was a significant factor in the emotional exhaustion and depersonalization of nurses, although it was somewhat less influential in the dimension of personal accomplishment. Because of heterogeneity in the effect sizes, moderating variables that might explain the association between age and burnout were also analyzed. Gender, marital status, and study characteristics moderated the relationship between age and burnout and may be crucial for the identification of high-risk groups. More research is needed on other variables for which there were only a small number of studies. Identification of burnout risk factors will facilitate establishment of burnout prevention programs for nurses. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Impact of social support in preventing burnout syndrome in nurses: A systematic review.

AIM: Burnout is a reality in the nursing profession. It is composed of three dimensions: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and reduced personal accomplishment, and results from being subjected to chronic stress in the healthcare context. Social support (SS), that is, the assistance and protection given by others, is a predictive and protective factor against burnout syndrome. The aim of this study is to analyze the relationship between SS, in its different forms, and burnout syndrome in nurses, and to identify the risk factors for burnout. METHODS: A systematic literature review was carried out, following the PRISMA recommendations. The databases CINAHL, PsycINFO, Proquest Platform (Proquest Health & Medical Complete), Pubmed and Scopus were consulted, using the descriptors: "burnout, professional AND social support AND nursing". To minimize potential publication bias, the search had no time or sample size limitation. RESULTS: Burnout was reported, to a greater or lesser extent, in all the articles analyzed, and the SS received by nurses in the workplace from supervisors and coworkers was found to play a fundamental role in preventing the syndrome. However, to date the bibliography on this issue is scant, and there is little consensus as to the degree of SS received. CONCLUSIONS: Burnout prevention plans, with particular attention to SS, should be developed to improve nurses' quality of life and to enhance the care they provide.

Levels of Burnout and Risk Factors in Medical Area Nurses: A Meta-Analytic Study.

Research findings concerning burnout prevalence rate among nurses from the medical area are contradictory. The aim of this study was to analyse associated factors, to determine nurse burnout levels and to meta-analyse the prevalence rate of each burnout dimension. A systematic review, with meta-analysis, was conducted in February 2018, consulting the next scientific databases: PubMed, CUIDEN, CINAHL, Scopus, LILACS, PsycINFO and ProQuest Health & Medical Complete. In total, 38 articles were extracted, using a double-blinded procedure. The studies were classified by the level of evidence and degrees of recommendation. The 63.15% (n = 24) of the studies used the MBI. High emotional exhaustion was found in the 31% of the nurses, 24% of high depersonalisation and low personal accomplishment was found in the 38%. Factors related to burnout included professional experience, psychological factors and marital status. High emotional exhaustion prevalence rates, high depersonalisation and inadequate personal accomplishment are present among medical area nurses. The risk profile could be a single nurse, with multiple employments, who suffers work overload and with relatively little experience in this field. The problem addressed in this study influence the quality of care provided, on patients' well-being and on the occupational health of nurses.

Prevalence of burnout in paediatric nurses: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Although burnout in paediatric nurses has been addressed in previous research, the heterogeneous nature of the results obtained and of the variables studied highlights the need for a detailed analysis of the literature. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyse the literature on burnout characteristics, reported prevalence, severity and risk factors, to achieve a better understanding of the risk of emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and feelings of low personal accomplishment. METHOD: For this purpose, we carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature. The databases consulted were CINAHL, LILACS, PubMed, the Proquest Platform (Proquest Health & Medical Complete), Scielo and Scopus. This study used the search equation "burnout AND "pediatric nurs*"", and was conducted in July 2017. RESULTS: The search produced 34 studies targeting burnout in paediatric nurses, with no restrictions on the date of publication. Many of these studies detected moderate-high values for the three dimensions of burnout, and highlighted sociodemographic, psychological and job-related variables associated with this syndrome. The sample population for the meta-analysis was composed of 1600 paediatric nurses. The following prevalence values were obtained: (i) emotional exhaustion, 31% (95% CI: 25-37%); (ii) depersonalisation, 21% (95% CI: 11-33%); (iii) low personal accomplishment, 39% (95% CI: 28-50%). CONCLUSIONS: A significant number of paediatric nurses were found to have moderate-high levels of emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation, and low levels of personal accomplishment. These nurses, therefore, were either experiencing burnout or at high risk of suffering it in the future. These results support the need for further study of the risk factors for burnout in paediatric nurses. They also highlight the importance of developing interventions or therapies to help prevent or attenuate the above symptoms, thus helping nurses cope with the workplace environment and with situations that may lead to burnout.

Validity of self-efficacy scale scores for a Spanish sample.

This study analyzed the validity of the Sherer, et al. Self-efficacy Scale for a Spanish sample of 555 subjects, 257 men and 298 women. 415 were from the general population; 34 schizophrenics and 45 with eating disorders were from a clinic, plus 61 drug addicts from two centers. All met DSM-IV-R criteria. The Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Assertiveness Inventory, and the Self-control Questionnaire were administered. The reliability for total scores, general factor were high even when social self-efficacy was low. A bidimensional factor structure seemed more acceptable. The Self-efficacy scale scores correlated with those on the Self-control Questionnaire and the Assertiveness Inventory. Extraversion scores on the Sincerity dimension of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire correlated with scores on the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Eysenck's Neuroticism and Psychoticism scales. Significant mean differences appeared between the general population group and the three clinical groups. These analyses support the usefulness of the scale for clinical practice and research with Spanish samples.

Risk factors and prevalence of burnout syndrome in the nursing profession.

BACKGROUND: The burnout syndrome is beginning to be regarded as an occupational illness of high prevalence among nursing in Spain. Individuals suffering from the syndrome manifest important health problems. More information about prevalence and risk factors for burnout is needed to prevent the syndrome and to determine the most appropriate clinical interventions when the disorder appears. OBJECTIVES: Burnout levels were evaluated in a group of nurses. The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of burnout, to identify the variables related to burnout and to propose a risk profile for this syndrome among the nursing personnel. SETTING: The study was carried out in public health centers in Andalusia (Spain). METHODS: The sample consisted of 676 nursing professionals from public health centers. Dependent variables were the three Burnout dimensions: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and personal accomplishment. Independent variables were socio-demographic, organizational, personality-related variables. RESULTS: The nurses manifested average to high burnout levels. There were statistically significant differences in burnout levels associated with the following variables: age, gender, marital status, having children, level of healthcare, type of work shift, healthcare service areas and conducting administrative tasks. Burnout was also associated with personality-related variables. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of burnout among nursing professionals is high. Gender, age, marital status, level of healthcare, work shift and healthcare service areas predicted at least one of the dimensions of the syndrome. Neuroticism, agreeability, extraversion and conscientiousness are personality traits that predict at least two of the dimensions of burnout syndrome in nurses. Therefore, personality factors should be considered in any theory of risk profiles for developing burnout syndrome in the nursing profession.

Psychometric properties and scales of the Granada Burnout Questionnaire applied to nurses.

Nurses are an occupational group with extremely high levels of burnout. The most accepted definition of the burnout syndrome was proposed by Maslach and Jackson, who characterized it in terms of three dimensions: (i) Emotional Exhaustion; (ii) Depersonalization; (iii) Personal Accomplishment. This definition was the basis for the Granada Burnout Questionnaire (GBQ). The objective of this research was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the GBQ and to elaborate an evaluation scale to measure burnout in nursing professionals in Spain. A total of 1,177 nurses participated in this study and successfully completed the GBQ. Evidence of construct validity was verified by cross-validation and convergent validity, and evidence of criteria validity was checked by concurrent validity. Cronbach's alpha was used to measure internal consistency. The results obtained in our study show satisfactory fit values in the confirmatory factor analysis and in the evidence of convergent and concurrent validity. All of the Cronbach alpha values were greater than .83. This signifies that the GBQ has good psychometric properties that are applicable to nurses. For this purpose a scale of T-scores and centiles was created that permitted the evaluation of burnout in Spanish nursing professionals.

Los enfermeros son uno de los colectivos profesionales que presentan mayores niveles de burnout. La definición más aceptada de este trastorno fue propuesta por Maslach y Jackson, y se caracteriza por Cansancio Emocional, Despersonalización y Realización Personal. Esta definición operativa fue usada en la elaboración del Cuestionario de Burnout Granada (CBG). El objetivo de la presente investigación fue evaluar las propiedades psicométricas del CBG y elaborar un baremo para profesionales de enfermería españoles. El CBG era cumplimentado por 1177 enfermeros. Las evidencias de validez de constructo fueron examinadas usando estrategias de validez cruzada y validez convergente, y las evidencias de validez de criterio mediante la validez concurrente. El coeficiente alfa de Cronbach se utilizó para medir la consistencia interna. Los resultados indican índices de ajuste satisfactorio en el análisis factorial confirmatorio, y en las evidencias de validez convergente y concurrente. Todos los valores de alfa de Cronbach fueron superiores a 0,83. Los resultados muestran que el CBG tiene buenas propiedades psicométricas para ser usado en enfermeros. Se elaboró un baremo en puntuaciones T y centiles que permite evaluar burnout en enfermeros españoles.

Bayesian estimation of the prevalence of suicide risk in institutionalized older people.

The assessment of suicide risk in institutionalized older people has received less attention in comparison with those not institutionalized. The studies carried out show contradictory data on the prevalence of risk in this population group. The current work estimates the prevalence of suicide risk through a Bayesian analysis and studies the risk factors of this behavior in a group of 110 institutionalized older people. A prevalence of 38.4% is obtained, and an association between suicide risk and the factors depression and perception of health. The results indicate to us the necessity for actions directed at decreasing the suicide rate in geriatric homes.

Evidencia de validez factorial del Maslach Burnout Inventory y estudio de los niveles de burnout en profesionales sanitarios / Evidence for factorial validity of Maslach Burnout Inventory and burnout levels among health workers

En el presente trabajo se quieren conocer los niveles de burnout y variables relacionadas con el síndrome en un grupo de profesionales sanitarios. Los objetivos de la investigación fueron la obtención de evidencias de validez factorial del Maslach Burnout Inventory, la estimación de la prevalencia y la identificación de factores de riesgo de burnout en un grupo de profesionales sanitarios. Se realizó un estudio transversal, cuantitativo y exploratorio. Los datos corresponden a una muestra de 435 profesionales que incluye auxiliares, enfermeros y médicos. Los resultados obtenidos indican un adecuado ajuste en la estructura trifactorial del Maslach Burnout Inventory; asimismo, se ha obtenido que la categoría profesional, edad y tipo de dedicación son factores de riesgo de padecimiento de burnout. Por otra parte, se obtiene que los enfermeros presentaban niveles de burnout más altos que el resto de grupos profesionales considerados. Lo anterior sugiere que los factores indicados deben ser tenidos en cuenta en la implantación de programas encaminados a la prevención del desarrollo del síndrome.

In this research we studied the levels and the associated variables with the burnout syndrome in health professionals. This research aimed to obtain evidences of factorial validity of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), to estimate the prevalence of burnout, and to identify the risk factors for this syndrome among health professionals. A cross-sectional, quantitative, and exploratory study was conducted for this purpose. The sample consisted of 435 professionals including assistants, nurses and doctors. The results indicated proper adjustment in the tri-factorial structure of the MBI. It was also found that professional category, age and type of dedication, are risk factors for suffering from burnout. On the other hand, the results showed that nurses had higher burnout levels than the rest of the professional groups studied. The foregoing suggests that the above risk factors should be taken into account when implementing programs to prevent development of the syndrome.