Introduction

Turnover rates among health-care personnel are rising, which could jeopardise patient safety and the quality of care. One contributing factor to the high turnover is the prevalence of mental distress. Stress of conscience among healthcare personnel has been shown to affect them negatively, and feeling that they cannot provide the care their patients need increases their stress levels. Therefore, an increased understanding of stress of conscience, its relation to burnout and its consequences for healthcare can improve hospital care for both patients and staff.

Aim

This study aimed to investigate the correlation between stress of conscience and burnout among health care personnel at an acute care hospital in southern Sweden.

Ethical issues and approval

This study was approved by the Swedish Ethical Review Authority and followed the guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki.

Methods

The study used a descriptive cross-sectional design. A total of 167 healthcare personnel at an acute care hospital in southern Sweden completed a questionnaire based on the Stress of Conscience Instrument and Oldenburg Inventory Burnout Instrument.

Results

There was a positive correlation between the stress of conscience and burnout (p = 0.01, Spearman's rank correlation coefficient = 0.559). The results showed a statistically significant correlation between 'living situation' and stress of conscience, showing higher stress of conscience in groups living alone than in those living with a partner. The analysis also revealed a statistical significance between 'working schedule' and burnout, particularly in the groups working daytime and working shifts.

Conclusion

Stress of conscience is positively correlated with burnout among healthcare professionals. Shift workers were more likely to experience burnout, and HCP living alone reported higher levels of stress of conscience. These findings highlight the combined impact of personal and organisational factors, underscoring the need for interventions that address both domains to reduce burnout and support workforce wellbeing.