'Burnout' among Dutch midwives.
OBJECTIVE
to determine the effect of workload on 'burnout' having considered work capacity.


METHODS
cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Dutch community midwives in independent practice.


METHODS
200 Dutch community midwives.


METHODS
three-week diary recordings, a questionnaire on practice and personal characteristics, and a questionnaire on 'burnout', social support and coping style.


RESULTS
differences in 'burnout' can be explained partly by the midwife's workload and partly by her work capacity. A high workload may lead to 'burnout' when a midwife is unable to handle stressful situations.


CONCLUSIONS
when a higher percentage of the supervised births occurred at the client's own home instead of during a short-stay hospital visit, the chances of 'burnout' are lower.


CONCLUSIONS
changes in the organisation of Dutch community midwifery care may contribute to the reduction of 'burnout'. 'Burnout' is a complex phenomenon influenced both by individual and organisational factors. When formulating policy to reduce 'burnout' among midwives specific work-related factors must be considered and emphasis be placed on the importance of personal resources.
Bakker
R H
RH
NIVEL (Netherlands Institute of Primary Health Care), Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Groenewegen
P P
PP
Jabaaij
L
L
Meijer
W
W
Sixma
H
H
de Veer
A
A
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D009721:Nurse Midwives / Q000523:psychology*; D011331:Private Practice; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires