Burn-out syndrome and behavior in conflict situations among nurses and doctors

Abstract

Due to its influence on behavior, the burn-out syndrome among nurses and doctors is an actual problem of modern management of medical employees. This study was conducted among 189 nurses and doctors and its aim was to examine the influence of burn-out syndrome on their behavior in conflict situations. The levels of burn-out syndrome and the most common type of behavior in conflict situations in nurses and doctors were studied. The types of behavior in conflict situations could be “competing”, “collaborating”, “compromising”, “avoiding” and “accommodating”, which were measured with the Bulgarian version of The Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI). Establishing the level of burn-out among nurses and doctors is necessary for purposeful therapeutic work aimed at developing work-related stress tolerance and for better control of behavior in conflict situations. The presented results show a higher “reduced personal accomplishment” for doctors compared to nurses.