Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-lj6df Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-18T22:19:47.707Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A systematic review of stress in staff caring for people with dementia living in 24-hour care settings

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 May 2010

Catherine Pitfield ,
Khodayar Shahriyarmolki  and
Gill Livingston
Catherine Pitfield*
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health Sciences, University College London, U.K.
Khodayar Shahriyarmolki
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health Sciences, University College London, U.K.
Gill Livingston
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health Sciences, University College London, U.K.
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Catherine Pitfield, Department of Mental Health Sciences, UCL, Holborn Union Building, Archway Campus, Highgate Hill, London N19 5NL, U.K. Phone: +44 020 7288 3552; Fax: +44 020 7288 3411. Email: [email protected].
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background: Family carers of people with dementia are at risk of psychological morbidity, and it is suggested that this may also be the case in paid carers as caring for people with dementia can be emotionally and physically demanding. Care homes have historically had difficulty recruiting and retaining staff, and job stress has previously been linked to high turnover amongst long-term care staff. We performed a systematic review of studies of the prevalence of psychological stress in staff caring for people with dementia in residential long-term care settings.

Methods: We conducted a comprehensive literature search of MEDLINE, PsychINFO and Web of Science databases up to May 2009, supplemented by a search of the references of all relevant articles. Search terms encompassed nursing staff, residential care and psychological distress. Validity of studies was graded by two authors independently using a standardized checklist.

Results: We identified 601 studies of which five met our inclusion criteria. Two studies reported on prevalence rates of staff distress and found 37% and 5% levels of being “at risk” from burnout, four studies reported mean stress scores and all were low.

Conclusions: All studies were either small or used instruments with unsatisfactory psychometric properties and so our conclusions are limited by the lack of good quality evidence. The preliminary evidence suggests that most staff who remain working in homes do not have a high prevalence of psychological stress or level of symptoms.

Keywords

burnouthomesnursingresidentialold agedistress
Type
Review Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 23 , Issue 1 , February 2011 , pp. 4 - 9
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Agoub, M., Elyazaji, M. and Battas, O. (2000). Professional burnout and sources of stress among health care workers. Annales Medico-Psychologiques, 158, 687–692.Google Scholar
Astrom, S., Nilsson, M., Norberg, A. and Winblad, B. (1990). Empathy, experience of burnout and attitudes towards demented patients among nursing staff in geriatric care. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 15, 1236–44.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Baldelli, M. V., Fabbo, A., Costopulos, C., Carbone, G., Gatti, R. and Zucchi, P. (2004). Is it possible to reduce job burnout of the health care staff working with demented patients? Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 38 (Suppl.)51–56.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boyle, M. (1998). Guidelines for evaluating prevalence studies. Evidence-Based Mental Health, 1, 37–39.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brodaty, H., Draper, B. and Low, L. F. (2003). Nursing home staff attitudes towards residents with dementia: strain and satisfaction with work. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 44, 583–590.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chui, Y. L., Chung, R. G., Wu, C. S. and Ho, C. H. (2009). The effects of job demands, control, and social support on hospital clinical nurses’ intention to turn over. Applied Nursing Research, 22, 258–263.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cocco, E., Gatti, M., Lima, C. and Camus, V. (2003). A comparative study of stress and burnout among staff caregivers in nursing homes and acute geriatric wards. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 18, 78–85.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cooper, C., Katona, C., Orrell, M. and Livingston, G. (2006). Coping strategies and anxiety in caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease: the LASER-AD study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 90, 15–20.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dunn, L., Rout, U., Carson, J. and Ritter, S. (1994). Occupational stress amongst care staff working in nursing homes: an empirical investigation. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 3, 177–183.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Edvardsson, D., Sandman, P.-O., Nay, R. and Karlsson, S. (2009). Predictors of job strain in residential dementia care nursing staff. Journal of Nursing Management, 17, 59–65.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Embriaco, N., Papazian, L., Kentish-Barnes, N., Pochard, F. and Azoulay, E. (2007). Burnout syndrome among critical care healthcare workers. Current Opinion in Critical Care, 13, 482–488.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fjelltun, A. M., Henriksen, N., Norberg, A., Gilje, F. and Normann, H. K. (2009). Functional levels and nurse workload of elderly awaiting nursing home placement and nursing home residents: a comparative study. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 23, 736–747.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hayter, M. (1999). Burnout and AIDS care-related factors in HIV community clinical nurse specialists in the north of England. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 29, 984–993.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jenkins, H. and Allen, C. (1998). The relationship between staff burnout/distress and interactions with residents in two residential homes for older people. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 13, 466–472.3.0.CO;2-V>CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Karasek, R. and Theorell, T. (1990). Healthy Work: Stress, Productivity, and the Reconstruction of Working Life. New York, NY: Basic Books.Google Scholar
Kuremyr, D., Kihlgren, M., Norberg, A., Astrom, S. and Karlsson, I. (1994). Emotional experiences, empathy and burnout among staff caring for demented patients at a collective living unit and a nursing-home. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 19, 670–679.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Larrabee, J. H. et al. (2010). Influence of stress resiliency on RN job satisfaction and intent to stay. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 32, 81–102.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lee, R. T. and Ashforth, B. E. (1990). On the meaning of Maslach's three dimensions of burnout. Journal of Applied Psychology, 75, 743–747.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lyman, K. A. (1989). Day-care for persons with dementia: the impact of the physical-environment on staff stress and quality of care. Gerontologist, 29, 557–560.Google ScholarPubMed
Mahoney, R., Regan, C., Katona, C. and Livingston, G. (2005). Anxiety and depression in family caregivers of people with Alzheimer disease: the LASER-AD study. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 13, 795–801.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Maslach, C. and Jackson, S. E. (1981). The measurement of experienced burnout. Journal of Occupational Behaviour, 2, 99–113.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Morgan, D. G., Semchuk, K. M., Stewart, N. J. and D'Arcy, C. (2002). Job strain among staff of rural nursing homes: a comparison of nurses, aides, and activity workers. Journal of Nursing Administration, 32, 152–161.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pines, A. and Aronsson, E. (1988). Career Burnout: Causes and Cures. New York: Free Press.Google Scholar
Schaefer, J. A. and Moos, R. (1996). Effects of work stressors and work climate on long-term care staff's job morale and functioning. Research in Nursing and Health, 19, 63–73.3.0.CO;2-J>CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schaufeli, W. B., Enzmann, D. and Girault, N. (1993). Measurement of burnout: a review. In Schaufeli, W. B., Maslach, C. and Marek, T. (eds.), Professional Burnout: Recent Developments in Theory and Research (pp. 199–212). Philadelphia: Taylor and Francis.Google Scholar
Schaufeli, W. B., Bakker, A. B., Hoogduin, K., Schaap, C. and Kladler, A. (2001). On the clinical validity of the Maslach Burnout Inventory and the Burnout Measure. Psychology and Health, 16, 565–582.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
von Dras, D. D., Flittner, D., Malcore, S. A. and Pouliot, G. (2009). Workplace stress and ethical challenges experienced by nursing staff in a nursing home. Educational Gerontology, 35, 321–339.Google Scholar
Zimmerman, S., Williams, C. D., Reed, P. S., Boustani, M., Preisser, J. S., Heck, E. and Sloane, P. D. (2005). Attitudes, stress, and satisfaction of staff who care for residents with dementia. Gerontologist, 45, 96–105.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed