A self-referral preventive intervention for burnout among Norwegian nurses: One-year follow-up study

Isaksson Rø, Karin E.; Gude, Tore; Tyssen, Reidar; Aasland, Olaf G.

doi:10.1016/j.pec.2009.07.008

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Volume 78, Issue 2 , Pages 191-197, February 2010

A self-referral preventive intervention for burnout among Norwegian nurses: One-year follow-up study

Karin E. Isaksson Rø
- Modum Bad, NO-3370 Vikersund, Norway
- Department of Behavioural Sciences in Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway
- Corresponding author at: Modum Bad, NO-3370 Vikersund, Norway. Tel.: +47 32749700/32749863; fax: +47 32749868.
Tore Gude
- Modum Bad, NO-3370 Vikersund, Norway
- Department of Behavioural Sciences in Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway
Reidar Tyssen
- Department of Behavioural Sciences in Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway
Olaf G. Aasland
- The Research Institute, Norwegian Medical Association, Oslo, Norway
- Institute of Health Management and Health Economics, University of Oslo, Norway

Received 2 February 2009; received in revised form 10 June 2009; accepted 3 July 2009. published online 05 August 2009.

Abstract

Objective

Burnout among nurses is an issue of concern, and preventive interventions are important to implement and evaluate. This study investigated levels and predictors of change in burnout dimensions after an intervention for help-seeking nurses.

Methods

Nurses participating in a self-referral, counseling intervention, from 2004 to 2006 in Norway, were followed with self-reporting assessments. One-year follow-up was completed by 160/172 (93%, 155 women and 5 men).

Results

Mean level of emotional exhaustion (one dimension of burnout, scale 1–5) was significantly reduced from 2.87 (SD 0.79) to 2.52 (SD 0.8), t=5.3, p<0.001, to the level found in a representative sample of Norwegian nurses. The proportion of nurses seeking psychotherapy increased after the intervention, from 17.0% (25/147) to 34% (50/147), p<0.001. Less reduction in emotional exhaustion was independently predicted by reporting a work-related conflict (β −0.53 (SE 0.13), p<0.001) or by getting a period of sick leave (β −0.28 (SE 0.12), p<0.05) after the intervention.

Conclusions

A short-term preventive intervention could contribute to reduction of emotional exhaustion in nurses. Work-related conflict and sick leave after the intervention were negatively associated with this reduction.