Relationship between Work-related Stressors and Burnout among Hospital Midwives

Abstract

This study aimed to develop a scale to measure work-related stressors among Japanese midwives working in hospitals and to determine potential demographic and job-related factors that may be associated with burnout.

A mailed self-administered questionnaire survey targeted 839 midwives working at 161 hospitals across Japan. In order to determine the relationship between the Maslach Burnout Inventory（MBI）subscales and work-related stressors, factor analysis and multiple regression analysis were carried out.

Valid responses were obtained from 708 participants（valid response rate：84.4%）with a mean age of 35.2 years. A Midwife Work-Related Stress Scale consisting of 55 items in the following 8 categories was created："poor collaboration between midwives and obstetricians"（factor 1）；"low self-evaluation of own midwifery practice"（factor 2）；"poor co-worker（midwives）support"（factor 3）；"difficult relationships with pregnant women or their families（factor 4）；"excessive workload"（factor 5）；"demand of duties besides midwifery job"（factor 6）；"unsatisfactory performance of care"（factor 7）；and "inadequate management system"（factor 8）．Variables associated with subcategories of the Midwife Work-Related Stress Scale comprised "age", "salary", "work position", "years of midwifery experience", "night work", "number of midwives", and "obstetrics bed capacity". Variables associated with the MBI were "age", "night shift", "poor co-worker（midwives）support", "difficult relationships with pregnant women or their families", and "excessive workload".

The present study confirmed the reliability and validity of the Midwife Work-Related Stress Scale. These findings suggest that an effective strategy for preventing burnout in midwives is to develop educational and supportive systems, reduce the quantitative work burden, and obtain supportive feelings from colleagues and supervisors.