Personal, professional and workplace factors that contribute to burnout in Australian midwives

Abstract

Aim:

This study aimed to identify personal, professional and workplace factors that contribute to burnout in midwives.

Background:

Burnout is prevalent in the midwifery workforce. Burnout adversely affects the well-being of midwives, diminishes the quality of care they provide and can shorten career duration.

Design:

Self-administered online survey. The survey included the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory and personal and professional variables related to age, children, years of experience, role, model of care and satisfaction with work life. Midwives were invited to participate via an email sent from the Australian College of Midwives and through professional networks between June and July 2014. Variables associated with burnout were entered in a multinomial logistic regression.

Results:

A total of 1,037 responses were received and 990 analysed. The prevalence of moderate to severe personal (N = 643; 64.9%) and work-related burnout (N = 428; 43.8%) were high. Having children, providing caseload midwifery care and working in a regional area were associated with low burnout. However, midwives registered for 5–10 years were more likely to report work and client-related burnout. Similarly, midwives reporting a lack of satisfaction with work–life balance were also more likely to report personal and work-related burnout.

Conclusions:

Family-friendly work environments that facilitate work–life balance can help to reduce the personal and organizational costs of burnout. Similarly, providing continuity of midwifery care in a caseload model can facilitate work–life balance and provide significant mental health benefits to participating midwives.