The relationship between burnout, commuting crashes and drowsy driving among hospital health care workers

BACKGROUND: Burnout and work satisfaction have been shown to be associated with risk of commuting crashes and drowsy driving. Although health care workers (HCWs) were found to have high burnout, no study has yet examined the relationship between burnout and commuting crashes in this occupational group. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine the relationships between burnout, commuting crashes and drowsy driving among HCWs. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 291 HCWs in a tertiary hospital, using an online survey focusing on burnout subscales, work satisfaction, commuting crashes, and drowsy driving to and from work. RESULTS: One third of the sample population reported commuting crashes that led to physical, mental, and quality-of-life harms in more than half of them. Burnout was not associated with commuting crashes; however, it was associated with increased drowsy driving. Nurses reported on more physical, emotional, and quality-of-life harms, and administrative staff reported on more physical harm. Low work satisfaction was significantly associated with higher severity of reported mental harm (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Burnout and commuting crashes are more common among physician and nurses, compared to other HCWs. Work satisfaction and sense of personal accomplishment can reduce the negative outcomes of commuting crashes and may contribute to recovery of HCWs after commuting crashes.