Burnout, job satisfaction and depression in the healthcare personnel who work in the emergency department

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to determine the levels of depression, job satisfaction and burnout and the variables that could be related to them in the healthcare personnel who were working in the emergency department in the sample from the city of Gaziantep. Methods: Study sample included a total of 347 participants, including doctors, nurses, healthcare officers, paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs), who have been working in the emergency department of Gaziantep University Medical Faculty Hospital, in the emergency departments of the state hospitals and 112 emergency services located in the city center of Gaziantep. In the study, we used socio-demographic data form, Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Results: Of the workers of emergency department, 18.5% (n=50) were working in the university hospitals, 40% (n=108) in the state hospitals and 41.5% (n=112) in 112 emergency services. Of the workers, 23.3% (n=63) were doctors, 31.5% (n=85) were nurses and 45.2% (n=122) were paramedics. Healthcare personnel who were working in the state hospital had significantly higher emotional exhaustion (EE) and BDI scores and significantly lower personal accomplishment (PA) scores compared to the workers of 112 emergency department. Paramedics had significantly lower EE scores compared to both doctors and nurses. In terms of age, it was found that 18-24 age group had significantly lower MBI-EE subscores compared to 25-29 and 30-34 age groups and that 40 and over age group had significantly higher BDI scores compared to 18-24 age group. All scales, except MBI-PA, were significantly different between the subjects who willingly chose the job and those who unwillingly chose the job. Again, all scales, except MBI-PA, were significantly different between the subjects who gave the answer of ‘I am satisfied with my work environment’ and those who gave the answer of ‘I am not satisfied with my work environment’. Discussion: Evaluating the mental health and working conditions of the people who work in a unit under an intense work pressure, which requires efficient, proper and rapid intervention to the patients, would help to improve the quality of the services given in this field.