The threat of COVID-19 and its influence on nursing staff burnout

J Adv Nurs. 2021 Feb;77(2):832-844. doi: 10.1111/jan.14642. Epub 2020 Nov 24.

Abstract

Aims: To evaluate whether the perceived threat of COVID-19 moderates the influence of work resources and demands on burnout.

Design: A cross-sectional study.

Methods: We used a convenience sample of 771 nurses working in 10 hospitals in northern Spain. The data on burnout, demand, and resources at work and the perceived threat of COVID-19 were compiled in the second fortnight of April 2020 using an online questionnaire. We used several hierarchical linear regression models.

Results: Work overload, material and human resources and social support at work were significant in explaining burnout. The perceived threat of COVID-19 variable was also significant and presented the highest regression coefficient (β = 0.392). The perceived threat of COVID-19 moderated the relationship between social support at work and burnout.

Conclusion: The perceived threat of COVID-19 helped to explain the degree of burnout in nurses and moderated the relationship between social support at work and burnout.

Impact: Hospitals should implement strategies to ensure that health emergency situations are not perceived as a threat. In pandemics, the organization should maintain clear, fluid, and regular communication with the nursing staff, which would help increase staff members' confidence and sense of control.

目的: 评估感知到的新冠肺炎威胁是否能调节工作资源及工作需求对工作精力的影响 设计: 进行横向研究 方法: 为便于研究,我们搜集了在西班牙北部的10所医院里工作的771名护士的相关信息作为样本。通过在线问卷调查,我们在2020年4月的第四周编制了关于工作倦怠、工作需求和工作资源及感知到的新冠肺炎威胁的数据。编制过程中,我们使用了几个分层线性回归模型。 结果: 在说明工作倦怠数据时,护理人员的超负荷工作、其工作时所获的人资物资及社会支持为几项重要信息。而感知到的新冠肺炎威胁这一变量回归系数最高(β = 0.392),因此该变量也同样值得注意。结果是,此项变量调节了护理人员工作时所获社会支持及其工作倦怠之间的关系。 结论: 感知到的新冠肺炎威胁数据有助于说明护理人员的工作倦怠程度,并且能够调节护理人员工作时所获的社会支持及其工作倦怠之间的关系。 影响: 医院单位应实施策略来保障人们的健康紧急状况不会被视为一项威胁。疫情期间,组织机构应与护理人员进行定期沟通,并保持沟通的清晰性与流畅性,该做法有助于增强护理员工的自信感及控制感。.

Keywords: COVID-19; Spain; burnout; nursing staff; perceived threat; social support.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Burnout, Professional / psychology*
  • COVID-19 / nursing*
  • COVID-19 / psychology*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nursing Staff, Hospital / psychology*
  • Occupational Stress / prevention & control*
  • Pandemics
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Social Support*
  • Spain
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Workplace / psychology*