The Relationship Between Burnout and Interpersonal Caring Behavior Among Hemodialysis Nurses: The Mediating Effect of Job Autonomy

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between burnout and interpersonal caring behaviors among hemodialysis unit nurses and to verify the mediating effect of job autonomy on this relationship. Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional survey design. Data were collected from 201 nurses working in hemodialysis units at three general hospitals in South Korea. Measurements were obtained using structured self-report questionnaires. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and regression analysis with the SPSS/WIN 26.0 program. The mediating effect was verified using Hayes' PROCESS macro (Model 4) with a bootstrapping method (5,000 samples). Results: The mean age of the participants was 40.23 (±9.53) years. Burnout showed significant negative correlations with job autonomy (r=-.40, p<.001) and interpersonal caring behaviors (r=-.34, p<.001), while job autonomy showed a significant positive correlation with interpersonal caring behaviors (r=.35, p<.001). Job autonomy was confirmed to partially mediate the relationship between burnout and interpersonal caring behaviors. Conclusions: These findings suggest that to improve the quality of relationship-based care in hemodialysis units, organizational strategies are required not only to reduce nurse burnout but also to enhance job autonomy. Strengthening job autonomy allows nurses to exercise professional judgment and regulate their work, thereby mitigating the negative effects of burnout and promoting better interpersonal caring behaviors in the long-term therapeutic environment of hemodialysis.