‘Burnout’ among Dutch midwives

• Published in: Midwifery Vol. 12; no. 4; pp. 174 - 181
• Main Authors: Bakker, Rudi H.C., Groenewegen, Peter P., Jabaaij, Lea, Meijer, Wouter, Sixma, Herman, de Veer, Anke
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Scotland Elsevier Ltd 01-12-1996
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Adult; Burnout; Burnout, Professional - psychology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Factors; Humans; Middle Aged; Midwives; Netherlands; Nurse Midwives - psychology; Nursing; Private Practice; Social Support; Surveys and Questionnaires; Workloads; Netherlands
• ISSN: 0266-6138; 1532-3099
• DOI: 10.1016/S0266-6138(96)80004-0

to determine the effect of workload on ‘burnout’ having considered work capacity.
cross-sectional study.
Dutch community midwives in independent practice.
200 Dutch community midwives.
three-week diary recordings, a questionnaire on practice and personal characteristics, and a questionnaire on ‘burnout’, social support and coping style.
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.
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.
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.