Association of job characteristics and burnout of healthcare workers in different positions in Rural China: a cross-sectional study

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Background Health workers in rural primary care systems are at increased risk of job burnout, but their associations with different positions have received scant attention in the literature. Thus, this study aims to measure job burnout in different positions in rural China and identify the associated factors of job burnout in different positions. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in six provincial regions in China. A total of 15,925 PC providers participated in this study, and job burnout was measured using the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Scale. Multilevel regression analyses were used in examining factors potentially associated with job burnout in different positions. Results Overall, more than half of providers in different positions suffered from moderate burnout. The degree of job burnout varied among different positions. Middle managers showed higher levels personal stress, and the general staff showed the lowest interpersonal and self-evaluation dimensions of burnout. Job duty, job capability, job treatment, and career advancement in different positions are potential factors affecting these results. Conclusions The degree of job burnout varied among different positions in health systems. Interventions aimed at improving communication skills, professional skills, and salary adjustments may be promising strategies for alleviating burnout in different positions and improving health system performance.