title: 'Burnout' among Dutch midwives.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: NIVEL (Netherlands Institute of Primary Health Care), Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Bakker
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Groenewegen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jabaaij
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Meijer
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sixma
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Veer
mesh_terms: 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