When Life is in Flames: A Qualitative Study of Burnout and Experiences with the Norwegian Healthcare System: When Life is in Flames: A Qualitative Study of Burnout and Experiences with the Norwegian Healthcare System
Translated title
Når Livet Brenner: En kvalitativ undersøkelse av utbrenthet og erfaringer med det norske helsevesenet: Når Livet Brenner: En kvalitativ undersøkelse av utbrenthet og erfaringer med det norske helsevesenet
Author
Tønnessen, Kristin
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2024
Submitted on
2024-10-22
Pages
69
Abstract
This qualitative study explores which factors people who have experienced burnout consider crucial for recovery and how they perceive the help they receive from the Norwegian healthcare system. We conducted semi-structured interviews with two participants, Ida and Fie, and also interviewed a healthcare professional specializing in burnout. The material was analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), a method that examines how people make sense of their experiences. Both participants described pressure to 'pull yourself together' and emphasized the importance of creating time and space for rest—for example, sick leave, increased support from family, and reduced responsibility for childcare. This space for rest was essential for addressing maladaptive patterns. For one participant, medical support in the form of medication played an important role in recovery. Although seeking help was difficult, both highlighted the importance of tuning into physical and psychological needs and boundaries, along with deep self-reflection, self-care, emotional engagement, and intrinsic motivation to identify underlying causes and patterns of burnout. Significant changes in their work environments were also necessary, as several causes were linked to working conditions. Both experienced inadequate guidance from healthcare professionals regarding sick leave and expressed a desire for more emphasis on emotional awareness and behavioral patterns rather than a sole focus on medicating symptoms.
Denne kvalitative undersøgelse afdækker, hvilke forhold personer, der har oplevet udbrændthed, selv ser som afgørende for deres bedring, og hvordan de oplever den hjælp, de får i det norske sundhedsvæsen. Vi gennemførte semistrukturerede interviews med to deltagere, Ida og Fie, og interviewede også en sundhedsprofessionel med speciale i udbrændthed. Materialet blev analyseret med fortolkende fænomenologisk analyse (IPA), en metode der undersøger, hvordan mennesker giver mening til deres oplevelser. Begge deltagere beskrev et pres for at 'tage dig sammen' og fremhævede betydningen af at skabe et rum til hvile – fx sygemelding, øget støtte fra familien og mindre ansvar for børnepasning. Dette rum for hvile var afgørende for at kunne arbejde med uhensigtsmæssige mønstre. For den ene deltager var medicinsk behandling med medicin en vigtig del af bedringen. Selv om det var svært at søge hjælp, understregede begge vigtigheden af at lytte til kroppens og psykens behov og grænser, samt nødvendigheden af dyb selvransagelse, egenomsorg, følelsesmæssigt engagement og indre motivation for at identificere underliggende årsager og mønstre. Derudover var væsentlige ændringer i arbejdsmiljøet nødvendige, fordi flere årsager var knyttet til arbejdsvilkårene. Begge oplevede utilstrækkelig vejledning fra sundhedsprofessionelle om sygemelding og ønskede større fokus på følelsesmæssig bevidsthed og adfærdsmønstre frem for et ensidigt fokus på at medicinere symptomer.
[This apstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]
Keywords