Job conditions, job satisfaction, somatic complaints and burnout among East African nurses

Abstract

Aims. To describe job conditions, job satisfaction, somatic complaints and burnout of female East African nurses working in public and private hospitals and to determine how these well‐being outcomes are associated with job conditions. Background. Insight into job conditions, health and well‐being status and their interrelation is virtually lacking for East African nurses. Design. Cross‐sectional survey of 309 female nurses in private and public hospitals in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Methods. Nurses completed a survey assessing job conditions and job satisfaction (the Leiden Quality of Work Life Questionnaire – nurses version), somatic complaints (subscale of the Symptom CheckList) and burnout (Maslach Burnout Inventory). Results. The East African nurses show high levels of somatic complaints, and nearly one‐third of the sample would be labelled as burned out. In comparison with a Western European nurses reference group, the nurses score unfavourably on job conditions that require financial investment (e.g. workload, staffing, equipment and materials). On aspects related to the social climate (e.g. decision latitude, cooperation), however, they score more favourably. In comparison with private hospital nurses, public hospital nurses score similarly on aspects related to the social climate, but worse on the other job conditions. Public hospital nurses have a lower job satisfaction than private hospital nurses, but show comparable levels of somatic complaints and burnout. Strongest correlates of low job satisfaction are low supervisor support and low financial reward. Burnout is mainly associated with high workload and inadequate information provision, whereas somatic complaints are associated with demanding physical working conditions. Conclusions. Improvement in job conditions may reduce the high levels of burnout and somatic complaints and enhance job satisfaction in East African nurses. Relevance to clinical practice. Efforts and investments should be made to improve the job conditions in East African nurses as they are key persons in the delivery of health care.

Factors influencing the job satisfaction of nurses working in obstetric units in public hospitals in Kenya

“…The other three were motivation factors: autonomy of practice, work worth to self and others and professional role enactment. The nurses were most satisfied with work worth to self and others, supporting findings by Doef et al [17] who found that nurses in East Africa feel more accomplished. South African nurses were found to be moderately accomplished Gaki et al [22] The findings from South Africa can be compared with those in Kenya since there are cultural similarities between the two countries.…”

“…This adds to an increasing body of knowledge where for example, Choi et al [1] in Hong Kong also expressed that the factors that attract people to nursing include interesting and challenging work and the ability to help others. Similarly, Doef et al [17] highlighted that providing comfort for patients and the knowing that patients are provided with adequate care were linked to increased job satisfaction. The findings are the same despite cultural differences in the study settings.…”

Prevalencia del Síndrome de Burnout en profesionales de enfermería de la Orinoquia colombiana, 2016

“…La diferencia entre los que laboran en el área de atención hospitalaria, frente a los que trabajan en un área diferente, se explica por las características propias del trabajo hospitalario de enfermería: una mayor carga laboral (número de pacientes y tiempo de trabajo) (19,24,(26)(27)(28) , carga emocional (exposición al dolor, la muerte) junto con la responsabilidad sobre el bienestar del paciente (5,19) y la rutina diaria (18,19) . La menor prevalencia del síndrome en enfermeros que laboran en áreas no hospitalarias, también fue encontrada en un estudio realizado en Suiza, donde asocian este hallazgo a la autonomía laboral que se presenta en esta área (29) .…”

Job Satisfaction Survey of Staff Nurses Working in the Hospitals.

“…Efforts and investments should be made to improve the job conditions of nurses, as they are key persons in the delivery of health care. 4 Patient satisfaction levels are lower in hospitals with more nurses who are dissatisfied or burned out-a finding that signals problems with quality of care. Improving nurses' working conditions may improve both nurses' and patients' satisfaction as well as the quality of care.…”