ASSESSMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL BURNOUT AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG STAFF NURSES WORKING IN INTENSIVE CARE UNITS OF NISHTAR HOSPITAL MULTAN: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: Intensive care unit (ICU) nurses face sustained occupational stressors, including high patient acuity, staffing shortages and rotating shifts, yet context-specific evidence from public-sector tertiary hospitals in South Punjab remains limited.

Objective: To determine the prevalence and dimensions of occupational burnout and to identify associated sociodemographic and work-related factors among ICU staff nurses at Nishtar Hospital, Multan.

Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 148 ICU nurses recruited through proportionate stratified random sampling from medical, surgical, cardiac and high-dependency ICUs. Burnout was measured using the Maslach Burnout Inventory–Human Services Survey. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests and multivariable binary logistic regression.

Results: The overall burnout prevalence was 71.6% (106/148). High emotional exhaustion was present in 68.2%, high depersonalization in 54.1% and low personal accomplishment in 58.8%. In adjusted analysis, rotating night shifts (aOR = 3.42, 95% CI: 1.28–9.14), nurse-to-patient ratio ≥1:3 (aOR = 4.08, 95% CI: 1.51–11.02) and self-reported job dissatisfaction (aOR = 3.65, 95% CI: 1.24–10.74) were independent predictors of burnout.

Conclusion: Burnout is highly prevalent among ICU nurses at Nishtar Hospital and is driven principally by modifiable Organisational exposures rather than demographic characteristics. Interventions should priorities shift-scheduling reform, enforceable nurse-to-patient ratios and structured Organisational support.