Burn-out in the dialysis unit

The management of human resources is definitely one of the most important chapters in managerial activities. So, the involved participation of personnel is one of fundamental importance for all systems of quality management. The aim of this study is to analyse satisfaction of personnel in dialysis units. We administered a questionnaire subdivided into 6 basic sections with 34 items regarding the work environment, the material, the environmental climate, the objectives, the quality, and justifications and suggestions. We received 298 replies to the questionnaire, of which 72 from doctors (D) (24.2%) and 226 from nurses (N) (75.8%). From a possible maximum score of 170, the scores reached were 115 points for the D and 113 for the N. It is obvious that N considered the environmental climate, the objectives and the quality of the services to be inferior compared to D. Thirty-nine percent of D and 27% of N were very critical of the items analyzed. A second step was dedicated to the administration of the questionnaire to the dialysis patients to verify if there was agreement. One hundred and twenty-five patients (5.7%) (randomized in a single dialysis unit for age and sex), of a total of 2170 patients responded. Their answers were then compared with those of the personnel. The data of our study showed that most of the personnel did not receive counseling about uncertainties, expectations did not correspond to reality and there was distrust and scarcity of involvement. These elements appeared to cause irritation and dissatisfaction and if not resolved are responsible, together with technical and environmental factors, for the serious burn-out syndrome in the personnel of dialysis units.