Burnout Precursors in Oncology Nurses: A Preliminary Cross-Sectional Study with a Systemic Organizational Analysis

Loris Bonetti, Angela Tolotti, Dario Valcarenghi, Carla Pedrazzani, Serena Barello, Greta Ghizzardi, Guendalina Graffigna, Davide Sari and Monica Bianchi
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Loris Bonetti: Nursing Research Centre, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale and Research and Development Unit of Oncology, Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland (IOSI), 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland
Angela Tolotti: Nursing Research Centre, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale and Research and Development Unit of Oncology, Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland (IOSI), 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland
Dario Valcarenghi: Nursing Research Centre, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale and Research and Development Unit of Oncology, Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland (IOSI), 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland
Carla Pedrazzani: Department of Business Economics, Health and Social Care, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, 6928 Manno, Switzerland
Serena Barello: Department of Psychology, EngageMinds Hub—Consumer & Health Research Center, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Milan, Italy
Greta Ghizzardi: Health Professions Research and Developement Unit, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, San Donato Milanese, 20100 Milan, Italy
Guendalina Graffigna: Department of Psychology, EngageMinds Hub—Consumer & Health Research Center, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Milan, Italy
Davide Sari: Nursing Research Centre, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale and Research and Development Unit of Oncology, Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland (IOSI), 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland
Monica Bianchi: Department of Business Economics, Health and Social Care, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, 6928 Manno, Switzerland

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 5, 1-13

Abstract: Burnout negatively affects nurses’ health and performance. Healthcare managers have an ethical duty to create healthy organizations that reduce burnout, especially within critical settings such as oncology. The aim of this study was twofold: (1) to measure the presence of nurses’ burnout to formulate organizational strategies to prevent the syndrome onset, and (2) to evaluate the effect of recent organizational changes on the burnout phenomenon. A descriptive, cross-sectional design supported by a systemic organizational analysis was conducted in a Swiss Oncology Institute in 2013. Of 103 nurses working in the Institute, 52 (51.4%) completed the Burnout Potential Inventory (BPI) questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Mann–Whitney and Kruskal–Wallis tests. Burnout risk levels were low to moderate. Only 2 nurses out of the 52 showed moderate burnout risk levels. Inpatient nurses showed a higher risk of burnout than outpatient nurses, particularly due to ambiguity and feelings of powerlessness. Nurses with post-basic education showed a higher risk when considering poor teamwork values and ambiguity in the workplace. Poor middle-management was found to negatively influence worker wellbeing. The working environment set by management resulted in low burnout risk levels. Managers must carefully select middle-management because inappropriate leadership might promote the onset of burnout.

Keywords: burnout; oncology nursing; leadership; nurse wellbeing; healthy organizations; sustainable work; patient engagement (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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