Assessment of burnout and the associated risks in intensive care unit nursing staff at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Gauteng, South Africa

Abstract

Background: Burnout significantly impacts well-being and job performance. High burnout rates in healthcare providers affect patient care, job satisfaction, and staff retention. This is of particular concern in an intensive care unit (ICU). The first step in addressing burnout is to determine the extent of the problem.
Aim: This study explores burnout prevalence and risk factors among ICU nurses at an academic hospital in Gauteng, South Africa.
Setting: The study was conducted at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Soweto, Gauteng province, South Africa.
Methods: A cross-sectional study design was employed in which a demographic questionnaire and the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey for Medical Personnel (MBI-HSS [MP]) were used.
Results: The study of 141 ICU nurses found that 51.1% exhibited burnout, characterised by high exhaustion and low personal accomplishment levels on the MBI-HSS (MP) (95% confidence interval 42.8% – 59.3%). Socio-demographic factors had minimal impact, but nurse category significantly influenced exhaustion levels (χ² = 11.74, df = 4, p = 0.019), with professional and auxiliary nurses reporting higher exhaustion than staff nurses.
Conclusion: A moderate portion of the ICU nurses studied experience burnout, driven primarily by the demanding nature of the profession, while most socio-demographic factors show little impact.
Contribution: This study highlighted the rate of burnout among ICU nursing staff at an academic hospital, indicating the necessity of individual and institutional interventions to address this issue.