Abstract
Nursing is considered to be an at-risk profession of burnout due to daily exposure to difficult situations such as death and pain care. In addition, some units such as the intensive care unit (ICU), can be stressful due to high levels of morbidity and mortality and ethical dilemmas. Burnout causes a deterioration in quality of care, increasing the risk of mortality in patients due to poor performance and errors in the healthcare environment. The aim of this study was to analyse the levels, prevalence and related factors of burnout in ICU nurses. A systematic review and meta-analysis were carried out in the Medline, Scopus and CINAHL databases. Fifteen articles were found for the systematic review and four for the meta-analysis. With a sample of n = 1986 nurses, the meta-analytic estimate prevalence for high emotional exhaustion was 31% (95% CI, 8–59%), for high depersonalization was 18% (95% CI, 8–30%), and for low personal accomplishment was 46% (95% CI, 20–74%). Within the dimensions of burnout, emotional exhaustion had a significant relationship with depression and personality factors. Both sociodemographic factors (being younger, single marital status, and having less professional experience in ICU) and working conditions (workload and working longer hours) influence the risk of burnout syndrome.
Highlights
In 1974, the American psychiatrist Freudenberger referred to burnout as a state of fatigue or frustration that appears after dedication to a cause, lifestyle, or relationship in which the expected effort is not produced [1]
Emotional exhaustion and depersonalization were negatively related to mental health, resiliency, and physical health
Personal accomplishment was positively related to mental health and resiliency
Summary
In 1974, the American psychiatrist Freudenberger referred to burnout as a state of fatigue or frustration that appears after dedication to a cause, lifestyle, or relationship in which the expected effort is not produced [1]. Burnout appears as a negative response caused after chronic work episodes of stress Professionals with this syndrome perceive it as a constant imbalance between their needs, their values and the work they do [2]. This phenomenon has three main components: emotional exhaustion (EE) or gradual loss of energy, exhaustion, tiredness and fatigue, which is externalized in a physical or psychological way, or both; depersonalization (D) or negative behaviours along with indifferent responses towards those who receive care or treatment; and low personal accomplishment (PA) that consists of being limited and not feeling fulfilled with the work performed [2].
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