A new tool to evaluate burnout: the Italian version of the BAT for Italian healthcare workers

Abstract

Abstract Background Healthcare workers (HCWs) represents one of the highest-risk population to develop burnout symptoms. Recently, a new tool has been designed to measure several dimensions that capture an exhaustive expression of burnout symptoms by six dimensions (i.e., exhaustion; mental distance; cognitive impairment; emotional impairment; psychological distress; psychosomatic complaints). Methods The current study aims to adapt the Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT) to an Italian Healthcare workers’ sample confirming the original second-order factorial structure. Furthermore, we expected to find good indexes of reliability and validity tests. Participants were 697 Italian Health Care Workers (Female = 68.44%; mean age = 36.47; SD = 11.20). Data were collected by self-report questionnaires submitted by the snowball method. Results Findings show a good fit of the BAT’s structure, confirming the hypothesized second-order factorial model. Furthermore, good reliability has been established with the study’s measures. Conclusions The BAT for HCWs is eligible as a new tool to evaluate burnout in the at-risk HCWs as a multi-facet constellation of symptoms.

Keywords

• Burnout
• Psychological distress
• Psychosomatic
• Occupational
• Questionnaire
• Validation