Abstract
BACKGROUND: Burnout is a significant public health problem among healthcare professionals. Burnout negatively impacts patient care, the health of the professional, and the healthcare system. While all healthcare professionals face burnout, it is important to explore burnout among healthcare staff who operate in unique settings, including staff who work on Mobile Health Clinics (MHCs). OBJECTIVES: The overall goal of this study is to describe burnout and the work-related factors associated with burnout among staff who work with patients on MHCs. This dissertation aims to (1) describe burnout, job demands, and job resources among MHC staff through key informant interviews, (2) describe burnout, job demands, job resources, and personal characteristics among MHC staff through a quantitative survey and (3) describe the impact of finding meaning in work on the relationship between workplace violence and burnout among MHC staff through a quantitative survey. METHODS: This study utilized a mixed-methods sequential exploratory study design. Key informant interviews were used to obtain qualitative data describing experiences of burnout and unique work environments on MHCs. An electronic survey collected data on prevalence of burnout and the job demands and job resources associated with burnout among staff who work with patients on MHCs. RESULTS: Aim 1: Interviews from 5 key informants identified the following key themes: working on an MHC, workplace violence, meaning in work, leader support, and teamwork. Aim 2: 35.6% and 39.7% of the sample (N=73) reported having personal or work burnout. Burnout was associated with age (<45), gender (female), leaders support, teamwork, and praise. Staff who had not experienced sexual violence or report having support from their leaders were more likely to report not having burnout. Aim 3: No associations were identified between meaningful work and burnout. IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH: Researching burnout levels can drive recommendations for interventions that seek to reduce burnout, especially those that reduce workplace violence or that increase leadership support and teamwork. It is paramount to understand, anticipate, and mitigate burnout among MHC staff to ensure MHCs continue to provide care directly in communities.
