Reducing the risk of burnout in human service professions: identifying practical strategies to manage emotional demands: A mixed-methods study in Denmark.

BACKGROUND: Professions such as nurses, doctors, social workers, teachers, and service employees bear significant responsibility for the health and well-being of patients, clients, and pupils, increasing the risk of burnout and sick leave. However, the factors that protect against these outcomes are not well understood. This study aims to identify specific strategies to manage emotional demands across various occupations, assess their impact on burnout levels. It also explore how these strategies are applied in practice, and explore the organizational conditions necessary for their implementation. METHODS: A three-step sequentially mixed-method design, combining qualitative and quantitative methods was used. Step one involved an expert focus group interview to identify practical strategies used in workplaces. Step two consisted of a survey of 1,336 employees to evaluate the associations and effects of these strategies on burnout. In step three, 32 qualitative focus group interviews were conducted at 14 workplaces to understand the application of these strategies. The 14 workplaces were selected based on the quantitative survey data only including those workplaces with high emotional demands and low burnout levels. RESULTS: Six practical strategies were identified: providing opportunities for supervision, discussing emotionally demanding cases, offering prompt feedback, allowing employees to "vent" with colleagues or management, performing task rotation, and discussing strategies to manage high emotional demands. The quantitative survey results indicated that these strategies were associated with lower burnout levels. The qualitative findings supported these results, highlighting the importance of these support measures in reducing emotional burdens. The study revealed that trust among staff and management and a strong sense of psychological safety were crucial. CONCLUSION: This study recommends that workplaces implement these six specific strategies as effective tools to prevent burnout.