Morale of mental health professionals in Community Mental Health Services of a Northern Italian Province

Abstract

SUMMARY. Aims -To explore morale of psychiatrists and psychiatric nurses working in Community Mental Health Centres (CMHC) in an Italian Province, and identify influential factors. Methods -Thirty psychiatrists and 30 nurses working in CMHCs in Modena completed questionnaires on burnout, team identity and job satisfaction. They also answered open questions about different aspects of their work. Answers were subjected to content analysis. Regression analyses were used to identify factors that predicted morale across groups. Results -Psychiatrists had higher scores on emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation. There were no significant differences between the two groups in job satisfaction and job or role perception. Professionals reported positive relationships with patients as the most enjoyable aspects of their job, whilst team conflicts and high workloads were seen as most difficult to cope with. Multivariate analyses showed that being a psychiatrist and perceiving team conflicts as a main cause of pressure in the job predicted higher burnout. Conclusions -Simple open questions coupled with quantitative measures appear a promising tool to investigate morale of mental health professionals and identify factors determining morale. Research, training and service development should focus on relationship aspects both with patients and within teams to reduce burnout in CMHCs.

Constraints Perceived by Psychiatrists Working in Community Mental Health Services. Development and Pilot Study of a Novel Instrument

“…Perception of a high workload and of team conflicts (especially those with clinical and management directors) as negatively impacting on job morale, confirms previous research conducted in the same geographical area (Galeazzi, Delmonte, Fakhoury, & Priebe, 2004). Lack of beds was mentioned as the most dissatisfying aspect of public psychiatric practice in a recent survey of Australian psychiatrists (Rey et al, 2004).…”

When therapist run out of steam : professional boredom or burnout? = Cuando el terapeuta pierde fuelle : ¿aburrimiento profesional o burnout?

“…(b) Age was a protective factor in some studies (Boscarino, Figley & Adams, 2004;Edwards et al, 2006) but a negative factor in others (Galeazzi et al, 2004). (c) The particulars of national health systems are of influence.…”

“…High personal accomplishment, resulting in positive relationships with patients (Brown & Gunderman, 2006;Galeazzi et al, 2004). Positive results from one's professional activity possibly include adequate remuneration (Lloyd & King, 2004) and career possibilities (Kumar, Bhagat, Lau & Ng, 2006).…”

“…Positive results from one's professional activity possibly include adequate remuneration (Lloyd & King, 2004) and career possibilities (Kumar, Bhagat, Lau & Ng, 2006). (Galeazzi et al, 2004;Swoboda et al, 2005) including a mentor or external facilitator (Reid et al, 1999a,b).…”

“…(c) The particulars of national health systems are of influence. (Edwards et al, 2006;Galeazzi et al, 2004;Korkeila et al, 2003;;Lloyd & King, 2004;Priebe et al, 2005;Rosenberg & Pace, 2006).…”