Impact of burnout on depression among nurses at a private hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa

Abstract

Background: Burnout is a syndrome that is understood as emanating from chronic workplace stressors that have not been managed successfully. Little is known about the causes of burnout among nurses in South Africa. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of burnout and its impact on depression and assess the relationship between burnout and depression among nurses at a Johannesburg private hospital.

Methods: Nurses at a private hospital in Johannesburg were asked about their exposure to depression and burnout using a closed-ended questionnaire as part of a quantitative, cross-sectional study design. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The respondents were selected using the simple-random sampling method. The collected data were analysed using IBM-SPSS version 28.

Results: The study involved 112 nurses, of whom 95 (84.8%) were females. Most of the nurses, that is, 56 (50.0%) were registered nurses. Emotional exhaustion (p = 0.001) and depersonalisation (p = 0.001) were significantly associated with depression. Work experience (p = 0.001) and depersonalisation (p = 0.002) had an impact on depression.

Conclusion: The study revealed a high prevalence of burnout among nurses at a Johannesburg private hospital. The study found that depression was significantly associated with emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation. The study also found that work experience and depersonalisation have an impact on depression.

Contribution: The study’s recommendations can help mitigate burnout and improve the well-being of nurses, ultimately enhancing the quality of healthcare services provided at the hospital.