Burnout and Work Engagement Among Care Workers and Related Factors in Japanese Long-Term Care Hospitals

This study investigated the prevalence of burnout and the level of work engagement, as well as their associated factors, among care workers (CWs) in Japanese long-term care (LTC) hospitals. This Cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted in LTC wards in hospitals across Japan. Participants included nursing managers and one representative CW (licensed and non-licensed CWs) in each LTC ward. Based on the Job Demands–Resources model, we hypothesized that burnout and work engagement levels of CWs in Japanese LTC hospitals are influenced by job demands and job resources such as organizational support. Further, to develop a new support strategy, CWs’ perspectives on care quality in the ward and its effect on burnout and work engagement were examined. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine the factors influencing these variables. The mean burnout subscale scores were 2.9 and 1.9 in emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, respectively. Conversely, the average work engagement score was 3.0. Multiple regression analysis revealed that higher burnout subscale scores were associated with higher quantitative workload and a lack of cooperation between nurses and CWs. Higher work engagement scores were linked with the administrators’ understanding of the burden of CWs and CWs’ perception of high-quality care in their wards. Promoting cooperation between nurses and CWs may be associated with a reduced risk of burnout. To improve work engagement among CWs, this may be a potential target for support, in which other clinical professionals and administrators acknowledge their burden and adopt approaches that may strengthen CWs’ perceptions of their contribution to care quality—such as structured reflection through case conferences.