[Job satisfaction, job burnout and their relationships with work'and patients' characteristics: a comparison between intensive care units (ICU) and not-intensive care units (not-ICU)].

INTRODUCTION

Health worker's population is espoused to high level of stress, and several studies highlight differences between intensive care units (ICU) and non-intensive care unit (non-ICU). Particular features of the job in ICU concern responsibilities for critically patients, highly advanced technology and need for quick decision.

AIMS

Aims of this study are: (1) to examine differences between ICU's and not-ICU's workers on several dimensions describing work environment and workers' health; (2) investigate which specific work conditions have a role in determining psychological work reactions in ICU's and not-ICU's workers.

METHOD

144 ICUs' and not-ICU's 114 workers employed in an Italian Hospital filled out a questionnaire concerning decision authority, autonomy, colleagues' and supervisors' support, physical and cognitive demands as antecedents; job satisfaction and job burnout (EE, DP) as consequences.

RESULTS

1. MANOVA highlighted how ICU workers reported significantly higher scores on depersonalization, job satisfaction, aggressive customers, while physical demands and proportionate customer expectations were significantly higher for not-ICU workers; (2) Six Multiple Linear Regressions were carried out. Those indicated decision authority, autonomy and supervisors' support as predictors of emotional exhaustions in ICU. In not-ICU only cognitive demands and colleagues' support are significant predictors. Depersonalization is predicted in ICU by colleagues' support. Predictors of job satisfaction both in ICU and not-ICU are: decision authority and colleagues support.

CONCLUSION

Current study highlighted several differences among ICU and non-ICU workers' referred to work environment and psychological reactions.