The effects of hazardous working conditions on burnout in Macau nurses

Abstract

Objective To examine the effects of various hazardous factors in working environments on burnout in a cohort of clinical nurses in Macau.

Methods A cross-sectional survey was used to examine specific workplace hazards for burnout in qualified nurses (n = 424) in Macau. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze relationships between specific hazards and manifestations of burnout.

Results In the final model, workplace hazards accounted for 73% of the variance of burnout with a standardized regression weight of 0.85. The measures of the model fit were acceptable. Bodily hazards, threats of violence, and physical environmental hazards were found to significantly contribute to two major determinants of burnout, emotional exhaustion and depersonalization.

Conclusions Workplace environmental hazards increased the risk of burnout amongst clinical nurses in Macau. Better management of these factors may help to protect nursing staff and reduce the risk of burnout and attrition from the nursing profession.