Abstract
Objectives
Health professional burnout has been associated with suboptimal care and reduced patient safety. However, the extent to which burnout influences hand hygiene compliance among health professionals has yet to be explored. The aim of the study was to examine whether job burnout reduces hand washing compliance among nursing staff.
Methods
A diary study was conducted. Forty registered nurses working in a general city hospital in Thessaloniki, Greece, completed a questionnaire, while they were monitored for hand hygiene compliance following the World Health Organization protocol for hand hygiene assessment. Burnout was measured using validated items from the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Data were collected from September to October 2015.
Results
Multiple regression analysis showed that controlling for years in practice, burnout was negatively associated with hand hygiene compliance (R2 = 0.322, F(3,36) = 5.704, P < 0.01). Nurses reporting higher levels of burnout were less likely to comply with hand hygiene opportunities (b = − 3.72, 95% confidence interval = −5.94 to −1.51).
Conclusions
This study showed that burnout contributes to suboptimal care by reducing compliance to hand hygiene among nurses. Given the crucial role of hand hygiene compliance for the prevention of in-hospital infections, this study highlights the need for interventions targeting the prevention of burnout among nursing staff.
Health professional burnout has been associated with suboptimal care and reduced patient safety. However, the extent to which burnout influences hand hygiene compliance among health professionals has yet to be explored. The aim of the study was to examine whether job burnout reduces hand washing compliance among nursing staff.
Methods
A diary study was conducted. Forty registered nurses working in a general city hospital in Thessaloniki, Greece, completed a questionnaire, while they were monitored for hand hygiene compliance following the World Health Organization protocol for hand hygiene assessment. Burnout was measured using validated items from the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Data were collected from September to October 2015.
Results
Multiple regression analysis showed that controlling for years in practice, burnout was negatively associated with hand hygiene compliance (R2 = 0.322, F(3,36) = 5.704, P < 0.01). Nurses reporting higher levels of burnout were less likely to comply with hand hygiene opportunities (b = − 3.72, 95% confidence interval = −5.94 to −1.51).
Conclusions
This study showed that burnout contributes to suboptimal care by reducing compliance to hand hygiene among nurses. Given the crucial role of hand hygiene compliance for the prevention of in-hospital infections, this study highlights the need for interventions targeting the prevention of burnout among nursing staff.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | e70-e73 |
| Journal | Journal of Patient Safety |
| Volume | 15 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| Early online date | 1 Oct 2017 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Dec 2019 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- burnout
- hand hygiene compliance
- nurse
- health care associated infections