EMPATHY AND BURNOUT SYNDROME IN THE PRACTICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES — PILOT STUDY
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The burnout syndrome is a result of stress on the work situation and most often concerns professions requiring emotional and direct contact with another human being. The level of empathy is closely related to the phenomenon of occupational burnout. The aim of the study was to determine the impact of socio-demographic factors of emergency services employees on the level of empathy.
METHOD: In the period January–March 2018, a survey was conducted using a questionnaire — Emphatic Sensitiveness Scale (ESC) and an anonymous author’s questionnaire containing questions regarding sex, age, length of employment, occupation, marital status and number of hours worked per month. The survey was addressed to 81 employees of emergency services: paramedics (n = 17) and firefighters (n = 23). The control group consisted of 16 nurses and 25 people performing non–medical professions.
RESULTS: The average number of hours worked per month by the respondents was 189 ± 49. There were 50 females (62%) and 31 males (38%). The questionnaire showed statistically significant differences in perspective taking domain between the control group composed of people working in non-medical professions (25.6 ± 4.3) and emergency services professionals: firefighter (28.7 ± 3.6) vs. paramedic (29.9 ± 3.5) vs. nurse (31.2 ± 3.0), p < 0.001. It has been shown a statistically significant effect of sex on personal distress domain: male (21.4 ± 4.2) vs. female (24.3 ± 4.7), p = 0.005.
CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, our data indicates that: (1) Nurses were characterised by the highest level of empathy amongst the surveyed professional groups; (2) Females were characterised by a higher level of personal distress; (3) Variables such as sex, age, and length of employment did not affect the level of empathy.
Keywords: empathyparamedicnursefirefighter
References
- Greenglass ER, Burke RJ, Fiksenbaum L. Workload and burnout in nurses. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology. 2001; 11(3): 211–215.
- Leiter MP, Harvie PL. Burnout among mental health workers: a review and a research agenda. Int J Soc Psychiatry. 1996; 42(2): 90–101.
- Kaźmierczak M, Plopa M, Retowski S. Empathic Sensitiveness Scale. Przegląd Psychologiczny. 2007; 50: 9–24.
- Hallsten L, Josephson M, Torgen M. Performance – Based Self – Esteem: A Driving Force in Burnout Processes and Its Assessment. National Institute for Working Life, Stockholm 2005.
- Maslach C, Schaufeli WB, Leiter MP. Job burnout. Annu Rev Psychol. 2001; 52: 397–422.
- Pokorski J, Ogińska H, Pokorska J, Hasselhorn HM. Praca zmianowa w pielęgniarstwie i jej postrzegana uciążliwość. In: Pokorski J, Ogińska H, Pokorska J, Hasselhorn HM. ed. Pielęgniarek polskich portret własny z Europą w tle, czyli raport z badań europejskich projektu NEXT. Naczelna Rada Pielęgniarek i Położnych, CIOP, materiały konferencyjne, Warszawa 2005.
- Fengler J. Pomaganie męczy. Wypalenie w pracy zawodowej. GWP, Gdańsk 2001: 90–94.
- Kowalczuk K, Jankowiak B, Krajewska-Kułak E, et al. [Exposure of medical rescuers to aggression at the workplace]. Ann Acad Med Stetin. 2009; 55(3): 76–80.
- Ogłodek E. Symptoms intensification of post–traumatic stress in individuals performing the job of a medical rescue worker. Environmental Medicine. 2011; 14(3).
- Nowakowska K, Jabłkowska–Górecka K, Borkowska A. Coping styles and burning out syndrome in the emergency medicine students and emergency medicine students working as emergency workers. Psychiatr Psychol Klin. 2009; 9(4): 242–248.
- Ogińska–Bulik M, Kaflik-Pieróg N. Occupational stress, self–efficacy belief and burnout syndrome in fire–fighters. Folia Psychologica. 2003; 7: 37–47.
- Schroeder M. Lider w straży. Organizacja i zarządzanie strategiczne. 2008.