{"title":"Lived experience of burnout and fatigue in perioperative healthcare professionals in Rwanda: a qualitative study","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.bja.2024.07.018","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>There is a lack of qualitative data on the negative effects of workplace stressors on the well-being of healthcare professionals in hospitals in Africa. It is unclear how well research methods developed for high-income country contexts apply to different cultural, social, and economic contexts in the global south.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We conducted a qualitative interview-based study including 64 perioperative healthcare professionals across all provinces of Rwanda. We used an iterative thematic analysis and aimed to explore the lived experience of Rwandan healthcare professionals and to consider to what extent the Maslach model aligns with these experiences.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>We found mixed responses of the effects on individuals, including the denial of burnout and fatigue to the points of physical exhaustion. Responses aligned with Maslach's three-factor model of emotional exhaustion, decreased personal accomplishment, and depersonalisation, with downstream effects on the healthcare system. Other factors included strongly patriotic culture, goals framed by narratives of Rwanda's recovery after the genocide, and personal and collective investment in developing the Rwandan healthcare system.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The Rwandan healthcare system presents many challenges which can become profoundly stressful for the workforce. Consideration of reduced personal and collective accomplishment, of moral injury, and its diverse downstream effects on the whole healthcare system may better represent the costs of burnout Rwanda. It is likely that improving the causes of work-based stress will require a significant investment in improving staffing and working conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9250,"journal":{"name":"British journal of anaesthesia","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":9.1000,"publicationDate":"2024-09-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"British journal of anaesthesia","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0007091224004586","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"ANESTHESIOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background
There is a lack of qualitative data on the negative effects of workplace stressors on the well-being of healthcare professionals in hospitals in Africa. It is unclear how well research methods developed for high-income country contexts apply to different cultural, social, and economic contexts in the global south.
Methods
We conducted a qualitative interview-based study including 64 perioperative healthcare professionals across all provinces of Rwanda. We used an iterative thematic analysis and aimed to explore the lived experience of Rwandan healthcare professionals and to consider to what extent the Maslach model aligns with these experiences.
Results
We found mixed responses of the effects on individuals, including the denial of burnout and fatigue to the points of physical exhaustion. Responses aligned with Maslach's three-factor model of emotional exhaustion, decreased personal accomplishment, and depersonalisation, with downstream effects on the healthcare system. Other factors included strongly patriotic culture, goals framed by narratives of Rwanda's recovery after the genocide, and personal and collective investment in developing the Rwandan healthcare system.
Conclusions
The Rwandan healthcare system presents many challenges which can become profoundly stressful for the workforce. Consideration of reduced personal and collective accomplishment, of moral injury, and its diverse downstream effects on the whole healthcare system may better represent the costs of burnout Rwanda. It is likely that improving the causes of work-based stress will require a significant investment in improving staffing and working conditions.
期刊介绍:
The British Journal of Anaesthesia (BJA) is a prestigious publication that covers a wide range of topics in anaesthesia, critical care medicine, pain medicine, and perioperative medicine. It aims to disseminate high-impact original research, spanning fundamental, translational, and clinical sciences, as well as clinical practice, technology, education, and training. Additionally, the journal features review articles, notable case reports, correspondence, and special articles that appeal to a broader audience.
The BJA is proudly associated with The Royal College of Anaesthetists, The College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland, and The Hong Kong College of Anaesthesiologists. This partnership provides members of these esteemed institutions with access to not only the BJA but also its sister publication, BJA Education. It is essential to note that both journals maintain their editorial independence.
Overall, the BJA offers a diverse and comprehensive platform for anaesthetists, critical care physicians, pain specialists, and perioperative medicine practitioners to contribute and stay updated with the latest advancements in their respective fields.