Scientific Paper Entitled: Understanding Work-Life Balance Of Healthcare Staff And Its Effects On Burnout And Safety Culture - A Cross-Sectional Survey Study In The Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: The healthcare sector in Saudi Arabia is facing increasing challenges related to work-life integration (WLI) and its impact on healthcare workers' burnout and job satisfaction. To address this issue, a scale was introduced to measure WLI behaviors and evaluate work-life balance in a Saudi Arabian healthcare system.

Objectives: (1) Investigate variations in WLI behaviors based on role, specialty, and other demographic factors among healthcare w[1]orkers in a large Saudi Arabian healthcare system. (2) Assess the psychometric properties of the work-life climate scale and examine its applicability as a group-level norm in the work setting. (3) Examine the associations between work-life climate and other healthcare climates, including teamwork, safety, and burnout.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey study was conducted in 2016 among healthcare workers in a large academic healthcare system in Saudi Arabia.

Results: A total of 13,040 eligible healthcare workers from 440 work settings within seven entities of the healthcare system participated in the survey, resulting in an 81% response rate. The internal consistency of the work-life climate scale was found to be α=0.830. WLI behaviors exhibited significant variations based on healthcare worker role, length of time in specialty, and work setting. Random effects analyses of variance demonstrated significant between-work setting and within-work setting variances, with intraclass correlations indicating clustering at the work setting level. T-tests comparing work settings in the top and bottom quartiles of WLI revealed that a positive work-life climate was associated with improved teamwork and safety climates, as well as lower personal burnout and burnout climate (p<0.001).

Conclusion: Issues related to WLI are prevalent among healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia and exhibit significant variations based on position and length of time in specialty. Contrary to common perception, WLI operates as a climate and is consistently linked to positive safety culture norms. These findings emphasize the importance of addressing WLI in healthcare settings to improve overall well-being and enhance healthcare climates.