Affiliations: Neurology, Public Health and Disability Unit,
Scientific Directorate, Neurological Institute Carlo Besta IRCCS Foundation,
Milan, Italy
Note: [] Corresponding author: Matilde Leonardi, Neurology, Public
Health, Disability Unit, Scientific Directorate, Neurological Institute Carlo
Besta IRCCS Foundation, Via Celoria 11 – 20133, Milan, Italy. Tel.: +39
02 2394 2521; Fax: +39 02 2394 2442; E-mail: leonardi@istituto-besta.it
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Healthcare and social professionals working with patients
with chronic diseases such as disorders of consciousness (DOCs) are at risk for
developing burnout, a stress-induced occupational syndrome. The aim of this
study was to evaluate burnout among professionals working with patients with
DOCs in post-acute and long-term care institutions. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: Healthcare and social professionals were
enrolled in 78 Italian institutions and completed the 22-item Maslach Burnout
Inventory (MBI), which investigates emotional exhaustion (EE),
depersonalization (DP), and personal accomplishment (PA). RESULTS: 1149 questionnaires were returned. Respondents showed
statistically lower level of burnout in EE, DP and PA compared to normative
data of Italian healthcare practitioners (p< 0.001) and 41.7% showed high
scores in at least one subscale. Working hours per week correlated positively
with EE (r=0.150, p<0.001) and negatively with PA (r= −0.111,
p=0.005). Mann-Whitney U and the Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to assess
differences between groups. Nurses reported statistically significant higher
levels of DP and lower levels of PA compared to other professionals. CONCLUSIONS: Professionals working with patients with DOCs
complained moderate to low levels of burnout. A better understanding of the
components of occupational stress may allow the development of a targeted
strategy to prevent negative outcomes, enhance well-being of professionals who
suffered burnout and, in turn, improve quality of life of patients.
Keywords: Healthcare, maslach burnout inventory, vegetative state, minimally conscious state
