High prevalence of burnout syndrome in orthopedic nurses in Italy

Background: Recent studies reported particularly high levels of burnout in nurses working in Orthopedic and Trauma departments. Objective: The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the estimated prevalence of burnout and psychiatric morbidity in a population of nurses that work in Italian orthopedic and traumatology departments and to reveal eventual correlations between socio-demographic factors, stress factors, and satisfaction at work. Methods: Nurses, employed in orthopedics and traumatology departments, were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire including: a section on demographic data, the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the Short-Form 12, a section on personal and social life, work conditions, and feelings about the work. Results: A high emotional exhaustion (EE) value was present in 35 nurses (66%), a high depersonalization (DP) value in 44 nurses (83%), and a low personal accomplishment (PA) value in 47 nurses (88%). High levels of burnout (EE and DP) were strongly correlated to nurses' perception of health-related quality of life (in the Mental Component Summary-12). Conclusion: The average subscales of burnout were remarkably high among Italian orthopedic nurses, suggesting the need of further studies for obtaining a more exact prevalence of this phenomenon.