The burnout syndrome: A mixed method study among Indian female nurses

• Main Author: Vattamattam, Lilly C.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2012
• Subjects: Burn out (Psychology); Indian nurses—Women; Counseling Psychology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_doctoral/326; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1325&context=etd_doctoral
• Institution: De La Salle University

The present study extends the knowledge of burnout syndrome among Indian nurses working in private hospitals. Mixed methods research, in particular, sequential exploratory design was employed to explore their burnout experiences. Phase I of the study used consensual qualitative research methods to analyze data from a purposive sample of 16 burnout nursing staff (single, n = 10 married, n = 6), working in 4 units of the hospitals intensive (n = 4), emergency (n = 4), coronary (n = 4) and general medical (n = 4) respectively. Nurses disclosed their burnout experiences, and 13 domains were identified, including concept of burnout, manifestations of burnout experiences, influencing stressors, resources that prevent and the coping strategies used in managing these stressors in the given situation. Findings suggest that nurses are emotionally exhausted with multiple role pressures that caused depletion of energy resulting in frustration and tension. Duty-related external and internal stressors impact nurses service as well as their interpersonal relationships. Finally, inadequate coping strategies caused nurses to feel futile and decide to quit the profession. Understanding the impact of emotional exhaustion on futility in nurses led to the development of intervention for burnout syndrome among nurses in Phase II. The psycho-educational program was tested for its effectiveness using a wait-list control group design. The evaluation of the program resulted in an 85% reduction in the burnout levels in the treatment group as measured by the MBI-HSS and SWB when compared with control group the reduction levels of burnout was only 15%. In conclusion, using such a sequential mixed methods approach to data analysis has the potential to shed light on the in-depth experiences among health professionals. Implications for research and practice are discussed.