Title : Factors related to burnout amongst nurses at a private hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa
Abstract:
Background: Burnout is a syndrome that is understood as emanating from chronic workplace stressors that have not been managed successfully. Little is known about the causes of burnout among nurses in South Africa.
Aim: The study aimed to determine the prevalence of burnout and its impact on depression and assess the relationship between burnout and depression among nurses at a Johannesburg private hospital.
Methodology: A non-experimental, quantitative, and cross-sectional study design using a closed-ended, structured and pre-coded questionnaire as a data collection tool to obtain information from nurses at a private hospital in Johannesburg regarding their exposure to depression and burnout was used. The sample size of 112 participants was decided based on 80% study power, 95% confidence interval, medium effect size of 0.39 and 9 predictors. The participants were selected using the simple random sampling method. The collected data were analysed using IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 28.
Frequencies and summary statistics were performed to analyse the sample characteristics of the study. The prevalence of burnout and depression was analysed using custom tables, means and standard deviations. The relationship between burnout and depression was analysed using correlation analysis. The impact of burnout on depression was analysed using multiple linear regression analysis.
Results: The results pointed to a significant positive correlation between burnout and depression. The multiple regression analysis revealed that burnout had an impact on depression. The study involved 112 nurses, of whom 95 (84.8%) were females. Most of the nurses, that is, 56 (50.0%) were registered nurses. Emotional exhaustion (p = 0.001) and depersonalisation (p = 0.001) were significantly associated with depression. Work experience (p = 0.001) and depersonalisation (p = 0.002) had an impact on depression.
Conclusion: The study revealed a high prevalence of burnout among nurses at a Johannesburg private hospital. The study found that depression was significantly associated with emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation. The study also found that work experience and depersonalisation have an impact on depression.
Contribution: One of the major contributions of this study is to raise awareness about burnout and depression.
Recommendations: The study’s recommendations can help mitigate burnout and improve the well-being of nurses, ultimately enhancing the quality of healthcare services provided at the hospital.
