[A follow-up study to assess stress and burnout in healthcare workers. Preliminary data]. / Studio di follow-up per la valutazione di stress e di burnout negli operatori sanitari. Dati preliminari.

To compare data obtained in a pilot study (2002) which evaluated the risk from exposure to stress and burnout in health care workers, the same three subjective questionnaires were administered: the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). The evaluation considered 294 workers employed in eight units: two of the six previous units were reorganized in four subunits. Preliminary data showed that questionnaires' scores have a concordant trend in the different units, as observed in 2002, confirming the validity of the instruments adopted. Results indicated a decreased level of the perceived stress in all the units, especially in the Third Division. We can hypothesize that the new organization, workers' turnover during the 5 years and the effect due to individual variables could have contribute to the observed variation. No significant associations, compared to 2002, between questionnaires' scores and task were found. Further evaluations, including measurement of objective parameters, will be carried out to complete the follow-up study and to determine which variables could have a role in the variation of the levels of stress and burnout's subjective perception.

[The stress index: proposed method for risk assessment of stress and burnout in health care settings]. / Lo "stress index": proposta di un metodo per la valutazione del rischio da stress e burnout in ambient sanitari.

To assess the risk from exposure to stress and burnout in health care workers, a pilot study was planned to compare and integrate the information based on the risk evaluation obtained through different parameters that can be quantified and elaborated to produce a numerical index, called the "Stress Index", and the subjective symptoms from the individual workers. For these purposes, three internationally validated questionnaires were administered: the Job Content Questionnaire, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Maslach Burnout Inventory. The study considered six different Units from three divisions of Internal Medicine of a large public hospital in Northern Italy, and a total group of 228 health care workers employed in the six units. The results showed an association between the Stress Index scores and the scores from the questionnaires. In particular, in the two units with the highest levels of the index, a significantly higher unbalance between job demand and decision latitude was observed, together with the highest levels of state and trait anxiety and of depersonalization, indicating higher burnout levels.