Prevalence and predictors of staff burnout at a tertiary cancer center in Jordan

TL;DR

This study found high burnout levels among Jordanian cancer center staff, linked to factors like low income, heavy workloads, and lack of training.

Contribution

The study identifies specific predictors of burnout in Jordanian oncology healthcare providers using a cross-sectional survey design.

Findings

75.7% of staff reported high emotional exhaustion, the most prevalent burnout dimension.

Lower income and lack of burnout training were significant predictors of emotional exhaustion.

Depression scores were strongly correlated with all burnout dimensions.

Abstract

Burnout among oncology healthcare providers (HCPs) poses significant challenges to both personal well-being and patient care quality. To inform targeted interventions, this study assessed burnout prevalence and its predictors among HCPs in a tertiary cancer center in Jordan. A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 10, 2023, to April 14, 2024, using an online questionnaire available in both English and Arabic. The survey, distributed via email and social media, included the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and sociodemographic items. Descriptive statistics, binary logistic, and group comparisons analyzed the relationships between demographic/work characteristics, depression, and burnout. Of 996 respondents, 692 (69.4%) completed the survey. Most participants were male (54.6%) and Muslim (98.3%), with 41.6% aged under 30. Respondents included physicians (17.1%), nurses (28.0%), and other healthcare roles (54.9%). Burnout levels were high, with 75.7% reporting high emotional exhaustion (EE), 35.3% experiencing high depersonalization (DP), and 27.2% showing low personal accomplishment (PA). Binary logistic regression analysis identified significant predictors of high EE, including lower income (<500 JD ≈ 705 USD, p = 0.004), thoughts of quitting (p = 0.000), and lack of burnout training (p = 0.007). High DP was associated with a lack of hobbies (p = 0.003) and thoughts of quitting (p = 0.000), while low PA was linked to a higher patient caseload (p = 0.000). Elevated PHQ-9 scores, indicative of depression, were significantly correlated with increased burnout across all dimensions (p < 0.001). In conclusion, burnout is highly prevalent among oncology HCPs in Jordan, with strong associations between burnout and specific demographic and work-related factors. Targeted interventions emphasizing stress management, organizational support, and effective coping mechanisms are crucial to mitigate burnout and enhance job satisfaction among oncology staff.

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