The British Journal of Psychiatry (2009) 195: 537-544. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.108.060871
© 2009 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
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Influence of perceived organisational factors on job burnout: survey of community mental health staff

Antonio Lasalvia, MD, PhD, Chiara Bonetto, PhD, Mariaelena Bertani, PhD, Sarah Bissoli, PsyD, Doriana Cristofalo and Giovanna Marrella, PhD

Department of Medicine and Public Health, Section of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, University of Verona, Italy

Enrico Ceccato, PsyD

Department of Mental Health, NHS Local Health Authority Montecchio (VI), Italy

Carla Cremonese, MD

Psychiatric Clinic, Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Italy

Moreno De Rossi, MD

Department of Mental Health, NHS Local Health Authority Treviso, Italy

Lorenza Lazzarotto, PsyD

Department of Medicine and Public Health, Section of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, University of Verona, Italy

Vanna Marangon, MD

Department of Mental Health, NHS Local Health Authority Mirano (VE), Italy

Idana Morandin, PsyD

Department of Mental Health, NHS Local Health Authority Pieve di Soligo (TV), Italy

Maria Zucchetto, MD

Departmetn of Mental Health, NHS Local Health Authority Padova, Italy

Michele Tansella, MD and Mirella Ruggeri, MD, PhD

Department of Medicine and Public Health, Section of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, University of Verona, Italy

Correspondence: Correspondence: Antonio Lasalvia, Department of Medicine and Public Health, Section of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, University of Verona, Policlinico ‘G.B. Rossi’ 37134–Verona, Italy. Email: antonio.lasalvia{at}univr.it

Declaration of interest

None.

Background

Staff burnout is a critical issue for mental healthcare delivery, as it can lead to decreased work performance and, ultimately, to poorer treatment outcomes.

Aims

To explore the relative weight of job-related characteristics and perceived organisational factors in predicting burnout in staff working in community-based psychiatric services.

Method

A representative sample of 2000 mental health staff working in the Veneto region, Italy, participated. Burnout and perceived organisational factors were assessed by using the Organizational Checkup Survey.

Results

Overall, high levels of job distress affected nearly two-thirds of the psychiatric staff and one in five staff members suffered from burnout. Psychiatrists and social workers reported the highest levels of burnout, and support workers and psychologists, the lowest. Burnout was mostly predicted by a higher frequency of face-to-face interaction with users, longer tenure in mental healthcare, weak work group cohesion and perceived unfairness.

Conclusions

Improving the workplace atmosphere within psychiatric services should be one of the most important targets in staff burnout prevention strategies. The potential benefits of such programmes may, in turn, have a favourable impact on patient outcomes.


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