COVID-Related Burnout in Healthcare Workers: Myth or Reality?

Abstract

Background:

During the current COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers (HCWs) have been more exposed to physical and mental exhaustion leading to burnout. This increased psychological pressure has led to many psychological issues, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, fear, depression, anxiety, and insomnia. The sudden onset of COVID-19 has brought new challenges to the clinical setting. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of HCWs.

Methods:

For this cross-sectional study, a survey consisting of 33 items was created using Google Forms and distributed via social media between March and April 2022 to healthcare workers (HCWs) over the age of 18 caring for patients with COVID-19. The items were designed to evaluate psychological burnout in HCWs during the pandemic. Google Forms responses were routed to Google Sheets and Excel to perform descriptive statistical analyses. IRB approval was obtained.

Results:

A total of 320 participants completed the survey. The mean age was 39.8 years old ( ± 12, IQR 25-75 = 29-49), and most were women (n = 268, 83.8%). The majority of participants (92%) agreed that they were experiencing some degree of burnout at work. Participants identified increased patient workload (80.6%), increased patient mortality (71.3%), and increased emotional needs of patients (64.8%) as the most significant work or life stressors that have affected them since the beginning of the pandemic. Most participants (n = 229, 73.9%) stated they had feared for their personal and their family’s health and more than half (n = 180, 58.1%) stated they had been adversely affected by the loss of social contact. Of the participants who said they are thinking of leaving their current job or profession due to the pandemic, 49.7% of them said they are definitely considering doing so in the next 5 years, and 25% said they had considered doing so within the next 6 months.

Conclusions:

The results of this study suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the mental health of HCWs to the point that burnout may lead to leaving their clinical job or even the profession. Further research is needed to understand, prevent, and reduce medical burnout.