Abstract
Introduction:
Burnout among nursing professionals is problematic for the nursing workforce, considering its effect on their Quality of Life (QoL) and the global shortage of nurses. There is a dearth of literature on the effect of burnout on the QoL of the practice of nursing in Ghana. Hence, this study sought to estimate the prevalence of burnout and its effect on the QoL of nursing professionals in two district hospitals in Ghana.
Methods
An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among three hundred and forty-three nursing professionals in two district hospitals in the Ashanti Region, Ghana. Data on participants' socio-demographic characteristics, work-related factors, burnout, and QoL were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire. The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL) questionnaire were used to assess burnout levels and QOL among study participants, respectively. Linear regression analysis was conducted to examine the burnout and the relationship between the dimensions of burnout and participants’ QoL.
Result
Out of the 343 participants, the prevalence of burnout was 2.9%. The mean age of study participants was 29.6 (± 5.4) years. About 20.7%, 83.6%, and 61.5% of the participants presented with high emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment, respectively. The study revealed that night shift (β: 6.06, 95%CI: 1.52, 11.60, p = 0.032) was associated with emotional exhaustion, while full day shift (β: -7.69, 95%CI: -13.48, -1.89, p = 0.010) and rank of nursing/midwifery officer (β:3.57, 95%CI: 1.71, 6.43, p = 0.015) were associated with depersonalization. The personal accomplishment dimension was predicted by casual employment (β: 5.72, 95%CI: 1.13, 11.31, p = 0.045). The mean score of the overall QoL score of study participants was 78.1 (± 8.6). A significant association was observed between moderate burnout for emotional exhaustion (β: − 4.59, 95%CI: -4.59, -0.46, p = 0.017), high burnout for personal accomplishment (β: -6.28, 95%CI: -8.65, -3.91, p < 0.001), and QoL of nursing professionals.
Conclusion
The total prevalence of burnout among nurse practitioners was low which is influenced by a multiplicity of factors: participants’ rank, type of shift, and type of employment. Burnout has a negative effect on the QoL of nursing professionals. Interventions to reduce the incidence of burnout can target reducing the number of night shifts and instituting incentives for casual/contract nurses.