Abstract 

Introduction: Turnover rates among health care personnel are rising, and one of the contributing factors is increasing mental distress. This could jeopardize patient safety and the quality of care. Factors such as the work environment, staffing, and involvement in decision-making are linked to better outcomes. Stress of conscience among health care personnel has been shown to affect personnel negatively, feeling that they cannot provide the care they need, leading to more stress. With an increased understanding of stress of conscience related to burnout and its consequences for the care, hospital care can be improved for both patients and staff.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the correlation between stress of conscience and burnout among health care personnel at a hospital in southern Sweden. 

Ethical issues and approval: This study was approved by the Swedish Ethical Review Authority and followed the guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki. 

Methods: In this study, using a descriptive cross-sectional design at a hospital in southern Sweden, 167 participants completed a questionnaire based on the Stress of Conscience Instrument and Oldenburg Inventory Burnout Instrument.  

Results: There was a positive correlation between the Stress of conscience and Oldenburg burnout inventory (p=0.01, Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (rho) = 0.559). The results showed a significance between “living situation” and stress of conscience in groups living alone, showing higher stress of conscience in this group than in those living with a partner. There was also a statistical significance in the analysis between “working schedule” and Oldenburg burnout inventory, and the analyses showed a significance in the groups working daytime and working shift. 

Conclusion: Managing the stress of conscience is important for improving healthcare. To enhance patients and health care personnel outcomes, increasing job resources and reducing job demands and implement person-centered care can be a part of the solution.