Year: 2023
Type: article
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To understand how micropolitan public health workers (PHWs) experienced burnout antecedents during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: We conducted in-depth guided discussions with 34 representatives from 16 micropolitan public health departments using semistructured, open-ended questions about departments' experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. We coded discussion transcripts to develop themes according to the Six Areas of Worklife model. RESULTS: PHWs described antecedents of burnout that stemmed from organizational and external forces, most notably within the workload, control, reward, and values dimensions of the Six Areas of Worklife model, as well as instances of workplace violence. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support organization-level approaches to reducing and preventing burnout in the micropolitan public health workforce. We discuss addressing specific dimensions of the Six Areas of Worklife model when designing burnout solutions for this essential workforce.
Institution: University of Iowa
Language: English
Topic: Stress and Burnout Research
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4323652403