Lilian Tzivian
University of Latvia, Latvia
Title: Problems of burnout in nurses: Stress, work tension and workability – Results from Latvian study
Biography
Biography: Lilian Tzivian
Abstract
In aging societies there is increased interest in keeping older people in the workforce, especially true in the health care system. Increasing age of the population and of the staff leads to a shortage of health care workers. Relationships between burnout, work stress, workability, and quality of life are still underestimated of nurses, and the investigation of these problems was the main aim of our cross-sectional study. Workability (1 to 10 scale) and work stress (questions on anxiety and depressive symptoms) were assessed using self-reported questionnaires.We built a work tension index (WTI) from 10-items efforts/rewards scale. Professional burnout was assessed using questions on irritation, depressiveness and weariness. Multiple linear regression models adjusted for presence of children, year of experience, wage and position were built to investigate the association between work stress and workability. We investigated the effect measure modification of this association by age (dichotomized on median of 45 years). Study sample included 232 nurses aged 18-79, with median 19 years of experience, mostly worked full wage. In fully adjusted regression models, workability was associated with work stress (effect estimate, β=-0.03 [95% confidence interval -0.04; -0.01] and with position (β=-0.23 [-0.42; -0.05]). Younger participants had stronger association than those older than 45 years, proposing age as effect measure modifier in the association between stress and workability. In addition, higher WTI increased a possibility of burnout (β=11.2 [1.0; 21.3]). To conclude: Nurses should be particularly treated to reduce their level of stress to prevent a shortage of health care workers.