relationship between inpatient nurse burnout and safety  outcomes in a teaching hospital in Thailand

Witoonsut C; Aekplakorn W; Phaipayom N; Wongrathanandha C

Authors

Witoonsut C Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand
Aekplakorn W Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University
Phaipayom N Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand
Wongrathanandha C Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand

Keywords:

Burnout, Inpatient nurse, Medication errors, Sharp injuries, Safety outcomes

Abstract

Objectives To identify the prevalence of inpatient nurse burnout and determine the association between burnout and safety outcomes based on self-reports and system reports, including medication errors, and sharp object injuries.

Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted of 1,464 inpatient nurses at a teaching hospital in Thailand. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect demographic data, burnout assessment, and self-reported safety outcomes. System-reported safety outcomes were obtained from hospital incident occurrence reports (IOR). Mixed effect logistic regression and negative binomial regression models were used to explore the association between inpatient nurse burnout and both self-reported and IOR safety outcomes.

Results Of the 702 participating inpatient nurses, 27% reported high emotional exhaustion, 13% reported high depersonalization, and only one nurse reported low personal accomplishment. The high emotional exhaustion dimension was statistically associated with self-reported medication errors (ORadj 1.90, 95%CI 1.1-3.2) and self-reported sharp object injuries (ORadj 3.12, 95%CI 1.2-7.9). For each one-point increase in emotional exhaustion on a 7-point Likert scale, the rate of reported sharp object injuries increased by 15% (p < 0.05).

Conclusions Emotional exhaustion among inpatient nurses was noticeable and could potentially impact on patient and personnel safety. Identification of nurses with emotional exhaustion and provision of support should be considered as a part of included in policies to improve safety outcomes in the healthcare services.

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