Burnout among hospital nurses in China.

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the level of burnout and factors that contribute to burnout in hospital nurses in the People's Republic of China.

Background: While burnout among hospital nurses has been widely researched in western countries, little research has investigated burnout among hospital nurses in China.

Method: A translated version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey was used to measure burnout in 249 randomly selected nurses from various wards of a large teaching hospital in Beijing, China. Questionnaire packs were sent to the hospital wards where selected nurses worked. One hundred and twenty-eight nurses returned the completed questionnaire. The response rate was 51%.

Results: The results showed moderate levels of Emotional Exhaustion and Personal Accomplishment, and low levels of Depersonalization. Age, years of experience and professional title had a significant positive relationship with Emotional Exhaustion and Personal Accomplishment. Older, married nurses with more personal responsibilities and in a more senior position experienced higher levels of Emotional Exhaustion.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that burnout is a significant issue for nurses in China.

Implications For Nursing Management: The results of this study indicate that working environment factors such as relationships with coworkers and managers may contribute to or mitigate burnout. There is a need to address personal and professional support, life-work balance, personal accomplishment and educational programmes to reduce burnout in nurses working in China.