title: Burnout and coping strategies of polytrauma team members caring for veterans with traumatic brain injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this national study were to (1) examine the extent of job burnout among VA Polytrauma team members engaged in the diagnosis and treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI); and (2) identify their coping strategies for dealing with job-related stress.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional sample of 233 VA Polytrauma team members completed the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and identified strategies for coping with work stress as part of an online survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  VA Polytrauma team members experience moderate levels of emotional exhaustion, but low levels of depersonalization and high levels of personal accomplishment. Moreover, 24% of participants reported high levels of emotional exhaustion, which may be a precursor to job burnout. Participants who reported caring for veterans with TBI ≥50% of their time experienced higher levels of emotional exhaustion than those who spent <50% of their time (p ≤ 0.001). Five major thematic categories related to coping strategies emerged from the data: (1) connecting with others, (2) promoting a healthy lifestyle, (3) pursuing outside interests, (4) managing work environment and (5) maintaining positive thinking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Polytrauma team members caring for Veterans with TBI may be at risk for job burnout.
authors: Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL 60153, USA. ksaban@luc.edu
authors: Karen L
authors: KL
authors: Saban
authors: Timothy P
authors: TP
authors: Hogan
authors: Daniela
authors: D
authors: Defrino
authors: Charlesnika T
authors: CT
authors: Evans
authors: Erica D
authors: ED
authors: Bauer
authors: Theresa Louise-Bender
authors: TL
authors: Pape
authors: Monica
authors: M
authors: Steiner
authors: Eric J
authors: EJ
authors: Proescher
authors: Frances R
authors: FR
authors: Vlasses
authors: Bridget M
authors: BM
authors: Smith
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D000368:Aged; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D003861:Depersonalization; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008887:Military Medicine; D009042:Motivation; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014728:Veterans; D016526:Workload