Nurse Burnout, Nurse-Reported Quality of Care, and Patient Outcomes in Thai Hospitals

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of nurse burnout on nurse-reported quality of care and patient adverse events and outcomes in Thai hospitals. MethodsCross-sectional analysis of data from 2,084 registered nurses working in 94 community hospitals across Thailand. Data were collected through survey questionnaire, including the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), which measures of nurse perceived quality of care and patient outcomes. Multiple logistic regression modeling was performed to explore associations between nurse burnout on quality of care and patient outcomes. FindingsThirty-two percent of nurses reported high emotional exhaustion, 18% high depersonalization, and 35% low personal accomplishment. In addition, 16% of nurses rated quality of care on their work unit as fair or poor, 5% reported patient falls, 11% reported medication errors, and 14% reported infections. All three subscales of the MBI were associated with increased reporting of fair or poor quality of care, patient falls, medication errors, and infections. Every unit of increasing emotional exhaustion score was associated with a 2.63 times rise in reporting fair or poor quality of care, a 30% increase in patient falls, a 47% increase in medication errors, and a 32% increase in infection. ConclusionsFindings clearly indicate that nurse burnout is associated with increased odds of reporting negative patient outcomes. Implementing interventions to reduce nurse burnout is critical to improving patient care in Thai hospitals. Clinical RelevanceHospital administrators, nurse managers, and health leaders urgently need to create favorable work environments supporting nursing practice in order to reduce burnout and improve quality of care.