A new report from the University of Sydney has found healthcare workers in New South Wales are facing high levels of stress, burnout, and work-life imbalance.
The report, titled How work design shapes mental health in the Healthcare & Social Assistance Industry surveyed over 1,000 healthcare workers in NSW and found 37% of respondents did not having enough time to do their work, 40% said their jobs were highly emotionally demanding, 22% reported high work-related burnout, and 24% said they don’t spend enough time with their family.
The report’s authors say these findings are a “wake-up call” for the healthcare industry and highlight the need for “smart” solutions that can help to improve the mental health and wellbeing of healthcare workers.
The report identifies four key areas where solutions are needed:
- Work design: The report calls for a redesign of healthcare work that takes into account the demands of the job and the needs of the workers. This could include things like reducing the number of hours worked, providing more support for workers, and creating more flexible work arrangements.
- Leadership: The report says that healthcare leaders need to be more supportive of their staff and to create a culture of workplace wellness. This could include things like providing training on stress management and burnout prevention, and creating a more positive and supportive work environment.
- Technology: The report says that technology can be used to help to reduce the workload of healthcare workers and to improve their communication and collaboration. This could include things like using electronic health records, videoconferencing, and other digital tools.
- Policy: The report calls for the government to provide more funding for healthcare workers and to support the development of “smart” solutions. This could include things like providing subsidies for training on stress management and burnout prevention, and funding research into new ways to improve the mental health and wellbeing of healthcare workers.
The findings of this report are a clear call to action for the healthcare industry. The high levels of stress, burnout, and work-life imbalance that healthcare workers are facing are not sustainable, and they are having a negative impact on the quality of care that patients receive.
The report’s authors have indicated the solutions offered provide a way forward. It is imperative the healthcare industry focuses on creating a more sustainable workforce by redesigning work and providing more support for all workers.