Abstract
Research question: To determine the incidence and level of work-related stress and burnout in midwives and contributing and protective demographic factors that may influence those levels.
Participants and method: All registered midwives (152) working in two public hospital
maternity units within the same health service district in NSW completed the
Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey and a demographic survey
including care model, shift work, lifestyle data and exercise level.
Findings: There was a response rate of 36.8% with 56 (56/152) midwives
completing the surveys. Almost two thirds (60.7%) of midwives in this sample
experienced moderate to high levels of emotional exhaustion, a third (30.3%)
scoring low personal accomplishment and a third (30.3%) experiencing
depersonalization related to burnout. Significant differences were found among
groups of midwives according to years in the profession, shifts worked, how
many women with multiple psychosocial issues were included in the midwife's
workload and the midwife's uptake of physical exercise. Those midwives who had
spent longer in the profession and exercised scored low burnout levels.
Conclusion: The impact of years in the profession, shifts worked, how
many women with multiple psychosocial issues were included in their workload
and the midwife's level of exercise significantly affected how these midwives
dealt with burnout and provided care for women. As the response rate was low,
and the study cannot be generalised to the entire midwifery workforce but
provides important insights for further research. Understanding factors related
to burnout can benefit health care institutions financially and in terms of
human costs, especially in view of consistent international shortages of
midwives.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 26-32 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Women and Birth |
| Volume | 26 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Mar 2013 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Factors that may influence midwives work-related stress and burnout. / Mollart, Lyndall; Skinner, Virginia; Newing, Carol; Foureur, Maralyn.
In: Women and Birth, Vol. 26, No. 1, 03.2013, p. 26-32.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Factors that may influence midwives work-related stress and burnout
AU - Mollart, Lyndall
AU - Skinner, Virginia
AU - Newing, Carol
AU - Foureur, Maralyn
PY - 2013/3
Y1 - 2013/3
N2 - Research question: To determine the incidence and level of work-related stress and burnout in midwives and contributing and protective demographic factors that may influence those levels. Participants and method: All registered midwives (152) working in two public hospital maternity units within the same health service district in NSW completed the Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey and a demographic survey including care model, shift work, lifestyle data and exercise level. Findings: There was a response rate of 36.8% with 56 (56/152) midwives completing the surveys. Almost two thirds (60.7%) of midwives in this sample experienced moderate to high levels of emotional exhaustion, a third (30.3%) scoring low personal accomplishment and a third (30.3%) experiencing depersonalization related to burnout. Significant differences were found among groups of midwives according to years in the profession, shifts worked, how many women with multiple psychosocial issues were included in the midwife's workload and the midwife's uptake of physical exercise. Those midwives who had spent longer in the profession and exercised scored low burnout levels. Conclusion: The impact of years in the profession, shifts worked, how many women with multiple psychosocial issues were included in their workload and the midwife's level of exercise significantly affected how these midwives dealt with burnout and provided care for women. As the response rate was low, and the study cannot be generalised to the entire midwifery workforce but provides important insights for further research. Understanding factors related to burnout can benefit health care institutions financially and in terms of human costs, especially in view of consistent international shortages of midwives.
AB - Research question: To determine the incidence and level of work-related stress and burnout in midwives and contributing and protective demographic factors that may influence those levels. Participants and method: All registered midwives (152) working in two public hospital maternity units within the same health service district in NSW completed the Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey and a demographic survey including care model, shift work, lifestyle data and exercise level. Findings: There was a response rate of 36.8% with 56 (56/152) midwives completing the surveys. Almost two thirds (60.7%) of midwives in this sample experienced moderate to high levels of emotional exhaustion, a third (30.3%) scoring low personal accomplishment and a third (30.3%) experiencing depersonalization related to burnout. Significant differences were found among groups of midwives according to years in the profession, shifts worked, how many women with multiple psychosocial issues were included in the midwife's workload and the midwife's uptake of physical exercise. Those midwives who had spent longer in the profession and exercised scored low burnout levels. Conclusion: The impact of years in the profession, shifts worked, how many women with multiple psychosocial issues were included in their workload and the midwife's level of exercise significantly affected how these midwives dealt with burnout and provided care for women. As the response rate was low, and the study cannot be generalised to the entire midwifery workforce but provides important insights for further research. Understanding factors related to burnout can benefit health care institutions financially and in terms of human costs, especially in view of consistent international shortages of midwives.
U2 - 10.1016/j.wombi.2011.08.002
DO - 10.1016/j.wombi.2011.08.002
M3 - Article
VL - 26
SP - 26
EP - 32
JO - Women and Birth
JF - Women and Birth
SN - 1871-5192
IS - 1
ER -