Effort–reward ratio, over-commitment and burnout: a cross-sectional study among Vietnamese healthcare professionals

In an effort to understand burnout, this study assesses the associations between effort–reward ratio, over-commitment and burnout among healthcare professionals. This study applies cross-sectional design using self-reported questionnaires. A total of 1162 doctors and nurses from 15 hospitals in Vietnam voluntarily participated in this survey. The questionnaire is composed of three parts: (1) questions of demographic and work-related information; (2) the 22-items version of the Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire (Siegrist et al., 2004); and (3) the 22-items Maslach Burnout Inventory—Human Service Survey-Medical Personal (Maslach & Jackson, 1986). Descriptive analysis, linear regression and structural equation model (SEM) are conducted to examine variables and the relations between them. Over-commitment and effort–reward ratio are related to all dimensions of burnout. Over-commitment is also positively related to effort–reward ratio. SEM analysis suggests that effort–reward ratio mediates the relationship between over-commitment and burnout. This study supports the effort–reward theory and further suggests that effort–reward imbalance and over-commitment are significantly related to burnout level among healthcare professionals. Over-commitment can also predict employees’ perceived effort–reward ratio. The study hence contributes some practical suggestions for organizational practitioners in working with burnout of healthcare professionals.