Burnout among staff on specialized eating disorder units in Norway

Trine Wiig Hage,Øyvind Rø,Karin Isaksson Rø

doi:10.1186/s40337-021-00473-x

Trine Wiig Hage, Øyvind Rø + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-021-00473-x

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Abstract

ObjectiveBurnout is commonly associated with low workplace wellbeing. Patients with eating disorders are frequently referred to as a particularly challenging group to treat. It is therefore important to study healthcare providers´ workplace wellbeing in settings which treat eating disorders. The aims of the current study were to (a) measure burnout among healthcare providers working on specialized eating disorder units in Norway, and (b) explore factors predicting burnout.Methods186 participants from 11 specialized eating disorder units in Norway completed an online survey including the Mashlach Burnout Inventory, and eating disorder-specific factors related to burnout, job satisfaction, work environment, emotional dissonance and stress. Multiple regression analysis was used to identify predictors of burnout.ResultsOverall, low levels of burnout were found among the participants. Eating disorder-specific factors and emotional dissonance predicted the three central aspects of burnout, namely, emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a diminished sense of personal accomplishment.ConclusionsFindings suggest a relatively low level of burnout across age, gender, and professional categories working at specialized eating disorder units, contrary to commonly-held assumptions pertaining to the challenges involved in treating individuals with eating disorders.

Highlights

Workplace wellbeing among healthcare providers is widely acknowledged as important for employees’ work performance and the quality of patient care (e.g. [1, 2])
Findings suggest a relatively low level of burnout across age, gender, and professional categories working at specialized eating disorder units, contrary to commonly-held assumptions pertaining to the challenges involved in treating individuals with eating disorders
Factors associated with eating disorders strongly predicted burnout

Summary

Introduction

Workplace wellbeing among healthcare providers is widely acknowledged as important for employees’ work performance and the quality of patient care (e.g. [1, 2]). Workplace wellbeing among healthcare providers is widely acknowledged as important for employees’ work performance and the quality of patient care One adverse consequence of low workplace wellbeing is burnout, which can be defined as “a psychological. Healthcare providers who experience burnout are less likely to be responsive to patients’ needs and are more prone to leave their job, which can negatively affect the health and well-being of patients as well as the individual worker. Emotional dissonance, defined as a structural discrepancy between the real emotions experienced by the employee versus those expressed to conform to the work situation or job requirements [9], has been repeatedly linked with burnout among healthcare providers who perform emotionally challenging work Emotional dissonance, defined as a structural discrepancy between the real emotions experienced by the employee versus those expressed to conform to the work situation or job requirements [9], has been repeatedly linked with burnout among healthcare providers who perform emotionally challenging work (e.g. [10,11,12])

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