KEEPCARING insights from EU-wide survey on hospital staff burn out and resilience
A scientifically grounded pan-European study is currently underway to understand burnout and resilience among hospital-based medical and nursing professionals. The KEEPCARING project, funded under the Horizon Europe programme, is spearheading this effort to identify key stressors and protective factors affecting healthcare workers across diverse EU settings.
The ongoing KEEPCARING survey employs validated psychometric instruments such as the Work Stress Scale and the Short Resilience Scale to assess participants’ experiences. Available in English, Danish, Dutch, German, Italian, Polish and Ukrainian, the survey ensures wide accessibility for participants across the EU healthcare landscape.
The study is led by the University of Limerick, which is coordinating both the quantitative and qualitative strands of the research. While the survey collects large-scale data, the complementary qualitative component—conducted through semi-structured interviews—adds deeper context by capturing lived experiences of stress, burnout, and resilience directly from doctors and nurses.
Recruitment is being rolled out in three phases. Initial outreach through KEEPCARING consortium hospital partners in Denmark, the Netherlands, and Germany yielded strong engagement. Currently in its second phase, the project is expanding participation via digital flyers, social media, and direct communication with national and international medical and nursing associations. Having already exceeded its target of 650 responses, the final recruitment stage will focus on underrepresented groups—such as surgical professionals—based on survey completion data.
The survey design is rooted in rigorous methodology, with statistical parameters tailored to ensure robust data.
Participation is open until the end of May 2025. Medical and nursing professionals as well as aspiring healthcare professionals currently in training, are encouraged to take part and contribute to shaping future interventions for healthcare wellbeing.
📣 If you are a healthcare professional or student—or know someone who is—please consider participating in this crucial study. [Access the survey here]
Your voice matters! Help us understand and transform the healthcare work environment across Europe.
