Exploring the Prevalence and Predictors of Staff Wellbeing within Healthcare Professionals

This thesis aims to explore the predictors of staff wellbeing and psychological distress within healthcare staff populations. Specifically, the literature review focuses on the psychological impact of complaints on healthcare professionals. Fourteen studies were reviewed, and findings revealed the prevalence of psychological distress following a complaint ranged between 2-67%. Associations between complaint experience and psychological distress were found, including burnout, impaired quality of life, and trauma reactions. The empirical paper had a similar theme linked to staff wellbeing, however this more broadly looked at various predictors of burnout within NHS Talking Therapies Services (NHS-TT; formerly known as IAPT). The literature review highlighted that very minimal research has been conducted within the psychological therapist population, therefore it was important to explore burnout within this population more broadly, including the prevalence and predictors. A total of 400 NHS-TT practitioners completed an online survey assessing burnout and predictor variables including moral distress, supervisory relationship, autonomy, job demands, workplace support, job characteristics, and participant demographics. Results revealed that 51% of the sample met criteria for mild-moderate burnout, and a further 46% of the sample met criteria for severe burnout. Low-Intensity practitioners reported higher burnout than High-Intensity practitioners. Hierarchical regression found predictors of overall burnout and disengagement to be moral distress, job demands, autonomy, support, and job role. For exhaustion, predictors were gender, job demands, moral distress, supervisory relationship, job role, and face-to-face working. These findings indicate a significant prevalence of burnout within NHS-TT practitioners.

Overall, this thesis project found that staff wellbeing is a concern within the healthcare population, specifically for medical professionals experiencing complaints procedures, and for psychological therapists working within NHS-TT services, where burnout is significantly impacted by the level of moral distress, high job demands, low levels of autonomy and low levels of support. The implications of these findings, limitations of this research, and suggestions for future research are discussed.