Psychiatr Prax 2011; 38 - P32_TP
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1277897

Influence of perceived organizational factors on job burnout: an Italian survey of mental health staff. Findings from the PICOS project

A Lasalvia 1, C Bonetto 1, M Bertani 1, S Bissoli 1, D Cristofalo 1, S Tosato 1, M Tansella 1, M Ruggeri 1
  • 1Section of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Verona, Italy

Background/Objectives: To explore the relative weight of job-related characteristics and perceived organisational factors in predicting burnout in a large sample of Italian mental health staff working in community-based psychiatric services.

Methods: The survey was conducted in the framework of the Psychosis Incident Cohort Outcome Study (PICOS), a multisite collaborative research effort examining incident cases of patients with psychoses served by psychiatric services in the Veneto Region, Italy. Nearly 2,000 mental health staff were asked to participate. Burnout and perceived organisational factors were assessed by using the ‘Organizational Checkup Survey', comprising the ‘Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey’ (MBI-GS), the ‘Areas of Worklife Scale’ (AWS), and the ‘Evaluation of Change Scale and Management Areas’. Linear and logistic regression models were used, respectively, to identify predictors of the MBI-GS dimensions and burnout.

Results: Seventy-six per cent of staff members approached returned the questionnaires. Overall, high levels of Emotional Exhaustion were reported by 30% of the respondents; high levels of Cynicism, by 19%; and low levels of Professional Efficacy by 21%. Psychiatrists and social workers reported the highest levels of burnout, and support workers and psychologists, the lowest. Specific perceived organisational factors accounted for each MBI-GS dimension, with the main predictors of workload, rewards, and control, respectively-for Emotional Exhaustion, Cynicism, and Professional Efficacy. Burnout was mostly predicted by higher frequency of face-to-face interaction with users, longer tenure in mental health care, workgroup cohesion, and perceived fairness.

Discussion/Conclusions: Our evidence suggests that team climate development should be considered a priority in staff burnout prevention or reduction efforts. The potential benefits of programs aimed at contrasting burnout include enhanced quality of life in work settings – a factor that can, in turn, favourably impact patient outcomes.

Funding: Grants from Fondazione Cariverona to Prof. Tansella; from the Ministry of Health, Ricerca Sanitaria Finalizzata 2004 to Prof. Ruggeri; and from the Ministry of Health, Ricerca Sanitaria Finalizzata 2005 to Dr. Lasalvia.

Keywords: Public and private services, therapeutic alliance, burnout.