Burnout in therapy radiographers in the UK

Area of Science:

• Radiotherapy
• Health Workforce Management
• Occupational Health Psychology

Background:

• UK National Radiotherapy Advisory Group report identified staffing as a key productivity barrier.
• Staff retention is crucial for meeting departmental objectives.
• Burnout is a significant factor influencing staff satisfaction and attrition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To measure burnout levels in radiotherapy professionals (therapy radiographers).
• To compare burnout scores against established health sector norms and international data.
• To identify correlations between burnout, job satisfaction, and intention to leave.

Main Methods:

• Case study methodology involving six radiotherapy departments with varying vacancy rates.
• Anonymous survey utilizing the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and other workforce measures.
• Analysis of 97 returned questionnaires, representing a 28% response rate.

Main Results:

• Average emotional exhaustion scores were higher than MBI norms.
• 38% of surveyed radiotherapists reported emotional exhaustion.
• A significant correlation was found between burnout, job dissatisfaction, and intention to leave.

Conclusions:

• Findings validate previous qualitative research on radiotherapy staff.
• High emotional exhaustion indicates a critical area for intervention.
• Recommendations include promoting role extension and effective leadership to mitigate burnout.