Preventing Job Burnout: Could Workplace Support Protect Maternal and Child Health Professionals Who Are Doing Public Health Equity Work?

PURPOSE: To assess the potential of workplace support to protect public health equity workers against job burnout and to identify key workplace support components. DESCRIPTION: This mixed-methods, explanatory sequential study analyzed survey and interview data collected between August 2020 and June 2021. Participants included governmental and non-governmental public health employees whose programs largely focus on Maternal and Child Health populations and who reported that their jobs involved working to reduce health inequities ("equity work"). Regression analysis tested the effect of emotional labor on job burnout, and whether workplace support modified that effect. Qualitative analysis of interview transcripts explored possible components of needed workplace support. ASSESSMENT: Emotional labor was positively associated with job burnout (p < .001), and there was a significant negative interaction between emotional labor and workplace support, meaning workplace support appeared to reduce the effect of emotional labor on burnout (p = .036). Qualitative analysis identified four support components: peer-to-peer mentoring connections, workplace accommodations, engaged and empathetic supervision, and mental health resources. CONCLUSION: Workplace support is associated with reduced job burnout for public health equity workers, especially those whose jobs involve high levels of emotional labor. Few public health employers are providing needed emotional supports for their equity workers, but certain supports appear to be helpful in reducing job burnout.

Toward a new model of childhood asthma care: community needs assessment in an underserved urban population.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to utilize a community-engaged research approach to better understand gaps and opportunities for improving asthma care from the perspectives of patients, caregivers, community organization representatives, and healthcare providers in a predominantly minority community. METHODS: Forty-one participants from four groups (patients, caregivers, community organization representatives, healthcare providers) participated in interviews or focus groups. A phenomenological approach to this qualitative research allowed the research team to better understand the lived experiences of families seeking asthma care in this community. RESULTS: Five gaps and five corresponding opportunities were identified. The gaps identified were unequal healthcare resource distribution; underrepresentation of health professionals from diverse backgrounds; experiences of environmental racism; mistrust, bias, and discrimination in healthcare encounters; and systemic marginalization of communities. The opportunities identified include increasing healthcare infrastructure and accessibility; increasing racially, culturally, and linguistically congruent healthcare; implementing equitable improvements to the built environment; building relationships with communities and individuals; and acknowledging communities' strengths and resilience. CONCLUSION: This study identified systemic gaps to asthma care that are of prominent concern to the community.

Understanding the Emotional Labor of Public Health Equity Work: a Mixed Methods Study.

BACKGROUND: Rectifying historic race-based health inequities depends on a resilient public health workforce to implement change and dismantle systemic racism in varied organizations and community contexts. Yet, public health equity workers may be vulnerable to job burnout because personal investment in the continual struggle against inequality exacts an emotional toll. Our study sought to quantify the presence of emotional labor in public health equity work and better understand its dimensions. METHODS: We conducted a mixed methods study of public health equity workers focused on maternal and child health in the USA. Participants completed a survey on the emotional demands of their public health equity work. A subset of survey respondents was interviewed to gain a better understanding of the emotional toll and support received to cope. RESULTS: Public health equity work was found to involve high levels of emotional labor (M = 5.61, range = 1-7). A positive association was noted between personal efficacy (i.e., belief in one's ability to do equity work well) and increased job satisfaction. However, burnout increased when equity workers did not receive adequate support for their emotional labor. Qualitative analysis revealed eight themes depicting the emotional burden, benefits and drawbacks, and coping strategies of public health equity work. CONCLUSIONS: Public health equity workers report high degrees of emotional labor and inadequate workplace support to cope with the demands. In our study, workplace support was associated with higher job satisfaction and lower burnout. Research is urgently needed to develop and scale an effective model to support public health equity workers.