Health behaviors and their relationships with job demands and Burnout in anesthesia health workers

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the associations between burnout and health behaviours in a sample of anaesthesia health workers (HWs). Material and Methods. 79 anaesthesia HWs (29 physicians, 50 nurses) participated in this cross-sectional study (aged 40.2±10.8 years, 81% females). For the evaluation of health behaviours, the questionnaire constructed for the study of Moustou et al. was used. Job demands and burnout were measured by Hospital Experience Scale and Maslach Burnout Inventory, respectively. A series of multiple regression models were tested to examine the associations of burnout to health behaviours, whereby controlling of age, hospital’s and unit’s tenure, as well as job demands. Results. Only 57% of the participants had breakfast every day or almost every day. Anaesthesia HWs consumed fast food on average of 2.47 (SD=2) times a week. Even 63.3% of the respondents didn’t exercise at all. Out of 79 respondents, 29 (36.7%) were smokers. Average scores of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization were 25.34±12.95 and 4.7±5.57, respectively. Results showed that emotional exhaustion positively predicted number of cigarettes smoked per day, frequency of using pills in order to relax and painkillers. Additionally, depersonalization positively predicted number of cigarettes smoked per day, frequency of using pills in order to relax and non-pharmaceutical remedies in order to relax/sleep, and number of drink units per time after leaving work and when going out. Conclusion. Job demands and burnout predicted health behaviours in anaesthesia HWs. Preventive strategy has to be developed in order to improve health and safety of anaesthesia HWs.