Occupational Burnout Perception Scale for Nurses: A Scale Development Study Using Mixed Methods

Occupational burnout experienced by nurses can negatively affect patient safety and quality of care by contributing to problems such as adverse events, malpractice and healthcare-associated infections. Burnout can lead to negative consequences for nurses, patients, healthcare services and society.

This study aims to develop a scale using mixed methods to assess nurses' perceptions of occupational burnout.

In the qualitative phase, 25 nurses were interviewed, and the scale was subsequently administered to a sample of 250 nurses for exploratory factor analysis. Four weeks later, the scale was readministered to 100 nurses selected from the same sample for confirmatory factor analysis and the assessment of test-retest reliability. Data were collected using the 'Qualitative Data Collection Form' and the 'Occupational Burnout Perception Scale for Nurses'. After the qualitative data were transcribed by the researchers, themes and codes were identified. The SPSS 23.0 software package was used to analyse the quantitative data.

Through content analysis, five themes and 14 codes were identified. A 25-item scale was developed based on the themes and codes identified. Through exploratory factor analysis, five items with low factor loadings and cross-loadings were removed from the scale. The analysis resulted in a five-factor structure consisting of 20 items.

The scale developed through a mixed-methods approach is recommended for use in studies evaluating nurses' perceptions of occupational burnout.

Furthermore, the developed scale may serve as a practical tool for nurse leaders to routinely monitor burnout levels, identify nurses at risk at an early stage and plan management strategies that promote staff well-being.