Burnout, compassion fatigue, and vicarious trauma among wildfire responders

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 451-460
Author(s):  
Rebecca A. Stout, EdD ◽  
Samantha Kostamo, BA ◽  
Sheryl West, MS

Firefighting is an essential occupation that is hazardous and stressful. While researchers have established that firefighters are likely to experience burnout, compassion fatigue (CF), and vicarious trauma (VT), no studies to date have focused on these variables in a context specific to wildfire response. As wildfires and their intensity continue to be a growing concern in the Western United States, there is a need to understand the extent of burnout, CF, and VT among firefighters, particularly those who respond to wildfires. This study was conducted at a large metropolitan fire department located in Colorado (n = 186). There were three scales used for this study: the Maslach Burnout Inventory—General Survey, the Vicarious Trauma Scale, and the Compassion Fatigue Self-Test. Survey results indicated that the firefighters experienced emotional exhaustion (μ = 16.99), moderate depersonalization (μ = 11.12), low reduced personal accomplishment (μ = 29.29), extremely high CF (μ = 22.60), and moderate VT (μ = 29.15). There were no significant differences between wildfire responders and nonwildfire responders. However, firefighters who were midcareer (11-15 years of service) and those who were between the ages of 35 and 55 were statistically more likely to experience emotional exhaustion and depersonalization than their younger and older peers, thus suggesting that further research is warranted to understand midcareer and midlife stressors among firefighters.

2016 ◽  
Vol 19 ◽  
Author(s):  
José M. Tomás ◽  
Saturnino de los Santos ◽  
Alicia Alonso-Andres ◽  
Irene Fernández

AbstractBurnout is characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and lack of personal accomplishment (Bakke, Demerouti, & Sanz-Vergel, 2014). Several instruments for its measurement exist, but the most widely used scale for measuring its dimensions, by far, is the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) in its different versions. Among the available versions of the scale, the MBI-General Survey was developed to measure three dimensions of burnout (cynicism, personal accomplishment, and emotional exhaustion) regardless of the type of work. The aim of this research is to offer evidence on the psychometric properties of the MBI-GS for its use in the Dominican Republic and other Caribbean Spanish-speaking countries, using representative sample of Dominican teachers. The factorial validity was studied through confirmatory factor analysis. Several competing models were proved in order to test the dimensionality of the scale. The confirmatory analyses shown that the original three-factor structure had a superior fit, but item eleven was removed in order to get an excellent fit χ2(87) = 211.19, p < .001, CFI = .98, RMSEA = .038 90% CI [.032–.045]. Regarding internal consistency, the CRI´s are well above the cut-off criteria of .7 (CRI’s ranged from .74 to .86). Concerning criterion-related validity, the three factors were correlated in the expected direction. Professional efficacy, a dimension of burnout measured in the opposite direction, was positively correlated with the three factors of work engagement, also as expected. This version was found to be a psychometrically sound measure of the three core dimensions of burnout.


RISORSA UOMO ◽  
2013 ◽  
pp. 509-520
Author(s):  
Stefano Taddei ◽  
Mariella Caria ◽  
Bastianina Contena ◽  
Eva Venturini

Attention to the interpersonal components made it possible to extend the study of burnout in professions characterized by constant contact with the customers. Using the Job Demands (JD) - Job Resources (JR) Model, this study aims to investigate a) whether specific work and relational JD can predict exhaustion and depersonalization; b) whether JR relating to employment can predict personal accomplishment. Surveyed 350 high contact workers who were given a questionnaire composed of a) Maslach Burnout Inventory - General Survey; b) Organizational Check-Up System and c) Customer- related Social Stressors scales. The results show substantial predictability of JD than emotional exhaustion and depersonalization and of JR than personal accomplishment, suggesting specific interventions for the prevention of burnout in high contact professions.


2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nilgun Yurtsever ◽  
Medine Yilmaz

Owing to the nature of their jobs, nurses all over the world experience burnout. The aim of this descriptive and correlational study was to describe the job characteristics, job satisfaction and burnout levels of home care nurses, and to predict what factors contributed to their job satisfaction and burnout levels. The study population consisted of 80 nurses working in home care units. Of them, 71 participated in the study. A socio-demographic questionnaire, the Minnesota Satisfaction Scale and the Maslach Burnout Inventory were used. Of the participants, 85.9 per cent were female, 56.4 per cent had a bachelor’s degree, and 46.5 per cent were employed in the public sector, 36.6 per cent in municipalities and 16.9 per cent in the private sector. The results revealed that their burnout levels for emotional exhaustion and personal accomplishment were high, and moderate for depersonalisation. Perceived work-related stress was more associated with emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation than with work satisfaction. Home healthcare nurses were suffering from high levels of burnout. Interventions are needed to improve job satisfaction, to reduce the burden of burnout among nurses, and to prevent them from leaving their jobs and retiring earlier.


Author(s):  
Eglė Slabšinskienė ◽  
Andrej Gorelik ◽  
Aistė Kavaliauskienė ◽  
Apolinaras Zaborskis

Although burnout has been described as a serious hazard for personal and professional lives and has been surveyed among dentists in many countries, no study has been published regarding burnout among dentists in Lithuania. This study aimed to evaluate the burnout level among Lithuanian dentists and its association with demographic variables, job satisfaction, and other job-related variables. The data were collected among dentists online or during professional conferences while using an anonymous questionnaire (n = 380). The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) was used to evaluate the burnout level. A Poisson regression was applied for the analysis of relationships between variables. We observed that 42.3% of the respondents had a high emotional exhaustion (EE) (95% confidence interval (CI): 37.4–42.3%), while 18.7% (95% CI: 15.0–22.9%) and 28,2% (95% CI: 23.4–32.6%) had high depersonalization (DP) and low personal accomplishment (PA), respectively. Nonetheless, 15.3% (95% CI: 11.8–18.9%) of the study population experienced a high level of overall burnout. An original job satisfaction index was elaborated. It was significantly associated with sum scores of all burnout dimensions: with the EE sum score (Ratio of Sum Score Means (RSSM) 1.54; 95% CI: 1.46–1.62), DP sum score (RSSM 1.59; 95% CI: 1.45–1.74), and PA sum score (RSSM 0.88; 95% CI: 0.84–0.92). It was concluded that Lithuanian dentists can be characterised by high burnout intensity and high prevalence of burnout, being especially evident in emotional exhaustion. The dentist with low job satisfaction appeared to be the most vulnerable to all burnout dimensions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Abdelghani ◽  
Hayam M. El-Gohary ◽  
Eman Fouad ◽  
Mervat S. Hassan

Abstract Background Physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic are working under relentless stress. This study aimed to identify the impact of the perceived fears of COVID-19 virus infection on the quality of life and the emergence of burnout syndrome among physicians in Egypt during the COVID-19 outbreak. This cross-sectional study was conducted between May 10th and June 9th, 2020, and included 320 Egyptian physicians who were working during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The participants were interviewed using the Fear of COVID-19 scale (FCV-19S), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Maslach Burnout Inventory, and World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale (WHOQOL-BREF) for assessment of the perceived fears of COVID-19 virus infection, associated anxiety and depressive symptoms, burnout symptoms, and quality of life, respectively. Results Overall, most physicians were females (63%). Ideas about death, moderate-to-severe anxiety, and depressive symptoms were reported by 11, 28, and 29% of physicians, respectively. For burnout symptoms, high emotional exhaustion, high depersonalization, and low personal accomplishment were reported by 20, 71, and 39% of physicians, respectively. The perceived fear of COVID-19 virus infection was positively correlated with anxiety, depression, and burnout emotional exhaustion, and depersonalization symptoms, and negatively correlated with personal accomplishment and all quality of life domains. Conclusions Egyptian physicians experienced higher levels of COVID-19-related fears, anxiety, and depressive and burnout symptoms. There was a robust correlation between these perceived fears, and higher burnout symptoms, and poor quality of life among physicians. Specific interventions should be tailored to minimize the physical and mental burdens on the physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic.


Author(s):  
Shimaa A. Elghazally ◽  
Atef F. Alkarn ◽  
Hussein Elkhayat ◽  
Ahmed K. Ibrahim ◽  
Mariam Roshdy Elkhayat

Background: burnout syndrome is a serious and growing problem among medical staff. Its adverse outcomes not only affect health-care providers’ health, but also extend to their patients, resulting in bad-quality care. The COVID-19 pandemic puts frontline health-care providers at greater risk of psychological stress and burnout syndrome. Objectives: this study aimed to identify the levels of burnout among health-care professionals currently working at Assiut University hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: the current study adopted an online cross-sectional design using the SurveyMonkey® website for data collection. A total of 201 physicians were included and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) scale was used to assess the three burnout syndrome dimensions: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment. Results: about one-third, two-thirds, and one-quarter of the respondents had high emotional exhaustion, high depersonalization, and low personal accomplishment, respectively. Younger, resident, and single physicians reported higher burnout scores. The personal accomplishment score was significantly higher among males. Those working more than eight hours/day and dealing with COVID-19 patients had significantly higher scores. Conclusion: during the COVID-19 pandemic, a high prevalence of burnout was recorded among physicians. Age, job title, working duration, and working hours/day were significant predictors for burnout syndrome subscale results. Preventive and interventive programs should be applied in health-care organizations during pandemics.


Author(s):  
Inmaculada Méndez ◽  
Juan Pedro Martínez-Ramón ◽  
Cecilia Ruiz-Esteban ◽  
José Manuel García-Fernández

Burnout is a reality in the teaching profession. Specifically, teaching staff usually have higher burnout rates. The present study aims to analyze the different burnout profiles and to verify if there were differences between burnout profiles in depressive symptomatology and in the self-esteem of the teachers at school. The total number of participants was 210 teachers from 30 to 65 years. The first scale was the Maslach burnout inventory, the second scale was the Self-Rating depression scale and the third scale was the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. The latent class analysis identified three burnout profiles: the first group with a high level of emotional exhaustion, low personal accomplishment and depersonalization (high burnout); the second group with low emotional exhaustion, low depersonalization and high personal accomplishment (low burnout) and the third group with low depersonalization, low emotional exhaustion and low personal accomplishment (moderate burnout). The results revealed that there were differences in depressive symptomatology (group 1 obtained higher scores than group 2 and group 3) and self-esteem (group 2 obtained higher scores than group 1). The psychological balance and health of teachers depend on preventing the factors that have been associated with this syndrome.


2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer C. Sepede ◽  
Joanna Petrides ◽  
Philip B. Collins ◽  
Meredith C. Jones ◽  
Nicole Cantor ◽  
...  

Abstract Context Strong evidence throughout the literature highlights burnout as a significant and increasing problem among medical students, impacting students’ ability to effectively care for and empathize with patients. Objectives To examine how involvement in extracurricular activities and attendance at burnout lectures can impact burnout among medical students. Methods An anonymous digital survey including the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) was sent to all students (n=765) at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine. The survey included questions regarding the number of burnout/wellness lectures respondents had attended, the number of clubs in which the respondents participated, the number of hours spent in these clubs, and any leadership positions held by the respondents. Results Of the 765 students enrolled, 597 completed the survey. Results indicated that women participated in significantly more clubs than men (t[456]=−4.30; p<0.001). Men had higher scores on the depersonalization subscale of the MBI than women (t[463)=2.98; p<0.01]. There were no gender differences in emotional exhaustion or personal accomplishment. Linear regression analyses including gender and club participation as predictors of each of the burnout subscales indicated a significant interaction between gender and number of clubs (β=0.34; p<0.05), in that more club participation was associated with higher depersonalization scores for women, but lower depersonalization scores for men. The number of wellness/burnout prevention lectures attended was not predictive of scores on any of the burnout subscales. Conclusions Our results indicate the importance of understanding what drives burnout on the individual level and adapting interventions to suit the needs of individual students, rather than the student body as a whole.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 363-369 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Vincent ◽  
Peter G Brindley ◽  
Julie Highfield ◽  
Richard Innes ◽  
Paul Greig ◽  
...  

IntroductionThis is the first comprehensive evaluation of Burnout Syndrome across the UK Intensive Care Unit workforce and in all three Burnout Syndrome domains: Emotional Exhaustion, Depersonalisation and lack of Personal Accomplishment.MethodsA questionnaire was emailed to UK Intensive Care Society members, incorporating the 22-item Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey for medical personnel. Burnout Syndrome domain scores were stratified by ‘risk’. Associations with gender, profession and age-group were explored.ResultsIn total, 996 multi-disciplinary responses were analysed. For Emotional Exhaustion, females scored higher and nurses scored higher than doctors. For Depersonalisation, males and younger respondents scored higher.ConclusionApproximately one-third of Intensive Care Unit team-members are at ‘high-risk’ for Burnout Syndrome, though there are important differences according to domain, gender, age-group and profession. This data may encourage a more nuanced understanding of Burnout Syndrome and more personalised strategies for our heterogeneous workforce.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Ong ◽  
Carla Swift ◽  
Wanyen Lim ◽  
Sharon Ong ◽  
Yasseen Al-Naeeb ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTObjectiveThe scale of burnout in UK gastroenterology trainees and the feasibility to determine its prevalence using the validated Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) tool are unknown. A region-wide pilot study was conducted to determine the uptake of a 31-item questionnaire and estimate the prevalence of burnout in gastroenterology trainees within the East of England deanery (EoE). Symptom severity across the three domains of burnout (emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, and low personal accomplishment), and frequently experienced stressors by gastroenterology trainees were also studied.DesignThis was a cross-sectional study involving gastroenterology trainees from 16 hospitals across EoE using a 31-item questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of the 22-item MBI-HSS and 9 additional free-text questions. All gastroenterology trainees in EoE were invited to complete the anonymized survey online. Data were analysed quantitatively and qualitatively.ResultsUptake of the survey was above-average; 44.0% (40/91) response rate. 57.5% (23/40) of gastroenterology trainees suffered emotional exhaustion. 23.5% (8/34) had depersonalisation and 63.9% (23/36) experienced low professional accomplishment. Burnout prevalence was 35.3% (12/34). Only 48.4% (15/31) of gastroenterology trainees were aware of professional support services within EoE. Stressors related to service requirements and professional relationships were commonly reported; 65.6% and 25.0% respectively.ConclusionsIt is feasible to use a 31-item questionnaire to detect and study burnout in a national cohort of gastroenterology trainees. Burnout in EoE gastroenterology trainees was high and this may reflect the national prevalence within the specialty. Larger studies, greater awareness of burnout, and better access to professional support services are needed.Summary BoxWhat is already known about the subject?Burnout in physicians is a growing problem worldwide which can lead to personal ill-health and suboptimal patient care.Burnout in young gastroenterology fellows in the US are reported as high as 50% but the prevalence in UK gastroenterology trainees is unknown.The Maslach Burnout Inventory - Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) is the most validated tool to determine physician burnout but survey length may affect uptake by UK gastroenterology trainees and the feasibility of future studies.What are the new findings?This pilot study demonstrated the feasibility of a 31-item questionnaire which included the MBI-HSS in studying burnout in UK gastroenterology trainees.Emotional exhaustion and a sense of low personal accomplishment affect more than half of gastroenterology trainees within the East of England.The prevalence of burnout in UK gastroenterology trainees is estimated to be high (35.3%) but larger studies are needed.Approximately half of gastroenterology trainees in the East of England were not aware of existing support services to help them cope with burnout.How might it impact on clinical practice in the foreseeable future?This pilot study may increase the awareness of burnout among UK trainees and trainers in gastroenterology.An estimate of burnout prevalence in UK gastroenterology trainees is provided so future research and remediation measures in the specialty can be justified.


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