Is the factorial structure of the Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Service Survey (MBI-HSS) replicable in the nursing profession in Peru? A national study

Abstract

Objective: The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) is an instrument commonly used for the evaluation of burnout syndrome. The version of the MBI-Human Service Survey (MBI-HSS) was applied to Peruvian nurses to explore the prevalence of this syndrome without previously considering possible evidence of validity to accredit its use. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the internal structure and reliability of the MBI-HSS in Peruvian nurses.

Methods: The study was prepared through secondary data analysis based on the information collected from 2809 nurses in Peru obtained from the National Survey of Satisfaction of Health Users (ENSUSALUD) applied in 2014. An exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis was prepared; reliability was estimated with Cronbach alpha and omega.

Results: The analyses indicated the presence of three factors, but with a reduction of 7 items; reliability was acceptable with the omega coefficient.

Conclusion: The results question the validity of the original version of the MBI-HSS for its application in Peruvian nurses, therefore, its diagnostic utility should be viewed with caution. As an alternative, it is advisable to prioritise the 15-item version and to continue with validation studies.

Keywords: Burnout ocupacional; Enfermeros; Estudios de validación; Nurses; Occupational burnout; Peru; Perú; Validation studies.