Examining the Relationship Between Alcohol Consumption and Burnout Among Nurses

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Addiction Medicine
• Nursing Research

Background:

• Healthcare professionals face significant stress and burnout, increasing susceptibility to alcohol misuse.
• High alcohol consumption rates in certain regions exacerbate this risk for health workers.
• Healthcare organizations should implement evidence-based strategies to support staff well-being and prevent burnout.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between burnout and alcohol misuse among nurses.
• To identify the prevalence of secondary trauma and its relation to alcohol use in nurses.
• To inform the development of targeted interventions for healthcare professionals in high-risk environments.

Main Methods:

• A convenience sample of 82 nurses completed online surveys.
• Utilized the Professional Quality of Life Questionnaire (Pro-QOL) and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT).
• Data were collected via RedCap from nurses and graduate students within one institution.

Main Results:

• A medium association was found between burnout scores and AUDIT scores (η = 0.506).
• Secondary trauma scores showed a small association with AUDIT scores (η = 0.304), with 26.5% of participants scoring high on the Pro-QOL Health subscale.
• Findings indicate a link between job-related stress, trauma, and alcohol misuse in nurses.

Conclusions:

• Regular assessment tools are needed to monitor nurses' well-being and identify substance misuse risks.
• Alcohol misuse among healthcare professionals in high-consumption communities should be recognized as an occupational hazard.
• Further research is essential to understand predictors of substance misuse and develop culturally appropriate interventions based on demographics and community setting.