Effectiveness of burnout interventions in nursing: A systematic review of systematic reviews with meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND

Burnout among nurses adversely affects health, retention, and quality of care. Although numerous interventions have been evaluated, heterogeneity in quality and outcomes limits translation into practice.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of interventions to reduce burnout in nurses through a systematic review of systematic reviews with meta-analysis.

METHODS

PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane, Scopus, Cuiden Plus, Dialnet, and Web of Science were searched up to December 2023. Eligible studies were systematic reviews with meta-analysis (2013-2023) reporting Maslach Burnout Inventory outcomes and rated medium or high quality using AMSTAR 2. Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted.

DISCUSSION: Seven reviews (132 studies; 7,432 participants) were included. Person-directed interventions, particularly mindfulness, coping skills training, and relaxation, reduced emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. No consistent effects were observed for personal accomplishment, and heterogeneity was substantial.

CONCLUSION

Person-directed interventions reduce core burnout dimensions in nurses, but evidence on long-term effects and organizational interventions remains limited.