Occupational Health and Wellbeing for Healthcare Providers

Dear Colleagues,

Occupational health and wellbeing are central to the intricate landscape of healthcare, significantly influencing the performance, satisfaction, and overall quality of care provided by healthcare providers. The literature underscores the urgency of addressing occupational stress and burnout among healthcare professionals, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions. Concurrently, investigations into the mental health of healthcare professionals reveal a complex interplay of stressors necessitating comprehensive approaches to support psychological wellbeing. Exploring the physical health aspects, ergonomic challenges in healthcare settings have been documented as significant contributors to musculoskeletal issues, and other work-related diseases. Implementing evidence-based ergonomic solutions is crucial to prevent injuries and ensure the sustained physical and mental health of healthcare providers.

In this Special Issue, we delve into the nuanced dimensions impacting the physical and mental health of healthcare professionals. Navigating the challenges inherent to the healthcare environment, this Special Issue strives to illuminate evidence-based practices, interventions, and innovative strategies enhancing the holistic wellbeing of those dedicated to patient care. The Special Issue extends its focus to topics like work-life balance, flexible scheduling, professional development, and the dynamics of teamwork, intricately linked to the overall wellbeing of healthcare providers. With a foundation rooted in literature-backed insights, this Special Issue aspires to contribute substantially to the ongoing discourse on occupational health and wellbeing. By exploring these critical aspects, we aim to offer a nuanced understanding resonating with researchers, practitioners, and experts alike, fostering a healthier and more sustainable work environment for dedicated healthcare providers.

Dr. Leodoro Labrague
Dr. Sulaiman Al Sabei
Guest Editors

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• occupational health
• wellbeing
• healthcare providers
• burnout
• mental health
• ergonomics
• work–life balance
• professional development
• team dynamics
• evidence-based interventions

Title: Emotional Exhaustion among critical care nurses and its link to Occupational Stress, Structural Empowerment, and Perceived Work Environment: Is There a Generational Differences?
Authors: Sulaiman Al Sabei; Leodoro Labrague; Arcalyd Cayaban; Omar Al-Rawjafah; Ikram Burney; Raeda AbulRub
Affiliation: 1. Associate Professor, Fundamentals and Administration Department, College of nursing, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman (Corresponding author). 2. Clinical Assistant Professor, Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing, Loyola University Chicago, USA. 3. Lecturer, Fundamentals and Administration Department, College of nursing, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman 4. Associate Professor, Adult Health and Critical Care Department, College of Nursing, Al al-Bayt University, Jordan 5. Senior Consultant, The Sultan Qaboos Comprehensive Cancer Care and Research Center, Muscat, Oman 6. Professor, Community and Mental Health Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing/ Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
Abstract: Background: Critical care nurses experiencing high levels of emotional exhaustion (EE). However, limited studies explored the influence of generational differences on the nurses’ perceived EE. Aim: The aim of the current study was twofold: (1) to assess generational differences in EE among critical care nurses and (2) and to examine the influence of generational differences, occupational stress (OS), structural empowerment (SE), and perceived work environment (WE) on nurses’ EE. Method: A cross-sectional design was used. A proportional stratified clustered sampling technique was utilized to collect data from nurses working at 19 hospitals in Oman. Results: A total of 714 staff nurses participated. The majority (78%) were from generation Y and 22% were from generation X. Findings from the regression analysis showed that generation X experienced higher levels of EE compared to their counterpart nurses from generation Y. Each additional point in the OS nurses experiencing was associated with a 0.63 increase in their EE. Working in an empowering and favorable environment with adequate staffing associated with a significant reduction in nurses’ perceived EE. Discussion: Findings emphasizes the importance of addressing generational differences to improve the quality of work environment. To reduce EE among critical care nurses, healthcare leaders are required to ensure adequate staffing, provide managerial support, and monitor stress and EE levels frequently, particularly among generation Y nurses.