Last update:
03-Jun-2018

OBJECTIVE Exploration of the psychosocial parameters and factors associated with the work performance of hospital personnel.

METHOD Data were collected from 545 hospital employees (149 doctors, 217 nurses, 134 administration staff, 45 paramedical staff ) throughout 2016 by completion of the Maslach questionnaire. This questionnaire explores three dimensions of the burnout syndrome, namely emotional exhaustion, depersonalization-cynicism, and lack of personal fulfilment, recorded on a 5-point scale. The alpha index of the questionnaire ranges from 0.662 to 0.872 (emotional exhaustion index: 0.872, depersonalization-cynicism index: 0.662, lack of personal fulfilment index: 0.811).

RESULTS Analysis of the responses showed that the hospital staff presented a high degree of emotional exhaustion, with an average score of 3.08, depersonalization-cynicism (average 3.99), and lack of personal fulfilment (average 2.58). Analysis according to staff category showed various differences: Emotional exhaustion was recorded by physicians at an average of 3.13, nurses 2.91, paramedical staff 3.22, and administrative personnel 3.07. In the dimension of depersonalization and cynicism, doctors recorded an average of 3.91, nurses 3.86, paramedical staff 4.15 and administrative personnel 4.04. On the lack of personal fulfilment scale, doctors recorded an average of 2.52, nurses 2.53, and paramedical and administrative personnel 2.64.

CONCLUSIONS Based on the results of this study, emotional exhaustion was reported by hospital staff, but this did not appear to be expressed as depersonalization and cynicism, nor to a lack of personal fulfilment. The high average value recorded by the nurses, and the emotional exhaustion reported by doctors, dictate the need for this phenomenon to be addressed.

Key words: Burnout, Hospital work environment, Staff, Work performance.