EXAMINATION OF PROTECTIVE AND RISK FACTORS DETERMINING THE PROFESSIONAL QUALITY OF LIFE OF PUBLIC HEALTH NURSES
Author(s)
Ilona Karácsony, PhD1, Mónika Ferenczy, MSc2, Kitti Máté-Póhr, BSc, MSc2, Imre Boncz, MSc, PhD, MD3, László Szabó, MSc4, Kálmánné Komlósi, Msc1, Annamaria Pakai, MSc, RN, PhD5;
1University of Pécs, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Basic Health Sciences, Midwifery and Health Visiting, Szombathely, Hungary, 2University of Pécs, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Emergency Care, Pedagogy of Health and Nursing Sciences, Szombathely, Hungary, 3University of Pécs, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Health Insurance, Pécs, Hungary, 4University of Pécs, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute for Emergency Care, Health Pedagogy and Nursing Sciences, Szombathely, Hungary, 5University of Pécs, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Emergency Care, Pedagogy of Health and Nursing Sciences, Pécs, Hungary
1University of Pécs, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Basic Health Sciences, Midwifery and Health Visiting, Szombathely, Hungary, 2University of Pécs, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Emergency Care, Pedagogy of Health and Nursing Sciences, Szombathely, Hungary, 3University of Pécs, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Health Insurance, Pécs, Hungary, 4University of Pécs, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute for Emergency Care, Health Pedagogy and Nursing Sciences, Szombathely, Hungary, 5University of Pécs, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Emergency Care, Pedagogy of Health and Nursing Sciences, Pécs, Hungary
OBJECTIVES: The professional quality of life of public health nurses is a complex, multidimensional phenomenon that is significantly influenced by the emotionally demanding nature of the helping profession. The psychological demands of everyday work justify an examination of the personal resources, job characteristics, and professional support factors that play a protective or risk role. The aim of the research was to explore the factors determining the professional quality of life of public health nurses and to identify their positive and negative effects.
METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire survey among health visitors who had been working for at least two years (N=286). Data collection was carried out using self-designed questions and the standardized Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL), which measures the dimensions of professional quality of life. We used SPSS 28.0 statistical software to analyze the data; we performed Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests, Mann-Whitney tests, Kruskal-Wallis tests, and Spearman's rank correlation analysis (p<0.05).
RESULTS: Increasing age was associated with higher job satisfaction and lower emotional overload (p<0.05). Higher educational attainment was associated with more favorable professional quality of life indicators (p<0.05), while a stable relationship appeared as a protective factor (p<0.05) . Health visitors working in mixed districts experienced increased emotional stress, but also reported more positive helping experiences (p<0.05). Substitution increased satisfaction derived from empathy (p<0.05), but its prolonged existence was associated with an increase in secondary traumatization (p<0.05). Professional training and case discussions significantly improved the dimensions of positive professional quality of life (p<0.05), while supervision had a protective effect against burnout and secondary traumatization (p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results, the professional quality of life of health visitors is determined by personal characteristics, working conditions, and forms of professional support. Developing structured support systems and increasing their accessibility is key to maintaining mental well-being and improving professional quality of life.
METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire survey among health visitors who had been working for at least two years (N=286). Data collection was carried out using self-designed questions and the standardized Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL), which measures the dimensions of professional quality of life. We used SPSS 28.0 statistical software to analyze the data; we performed Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests, Mann-Whitney tests, Kruskal-Wallis tests, and Spearman's rank correlation analysis (p<0.05).
RESULTS: Increasing age was associated with higher job satisfaction and lower emotional overload (p<0.05). Higher educational attainment was associated with more favorable professional quality of life indicators (p<0.05), while a stable relationship appeared as a protective factor (p<0.05) . Health visitors working in mixed districts experienced increased emotional stress, but also reported more positive helping experiences (p<0.05). Substitution increased satisfaction derived from empathy (p<0.05), but its prolonged existence was associated with an increase in secondary traumatization (p<0.05). Professional training and case discussions significantly improved the dimensions of positive professional quality of life (p<0.05), while supervision had a protective effect against burnout and secondary traumatization (p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results, the professional quality of life of health visitors is determined by personal characteristics, working conditions, and forms of professional support. Developing structured support systems and increasing their accessibility is key to maintaining mental well-being and improving professional quality of life.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6
Code
HSD98
Topic
Health Service Delivery & Process of Care
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas