Burnout in Healthcare Providers During the COVID-19 Global Pandemic: An Analysis of Burnout Presence in Central Ohio Respiratory Therapists

Abstract

Background:

In March of 2020 the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 virus as a global pandemic. This has had vast effects on the healthcare systems around the world leaving workers feeling dejected and burnt out. This study seeks to describe the source and severity of burnout among respiratory therapists in central Ohio during the pandemic.

Methods:

Researchers developed an electronic survey based on a review of literature. Once IRB approval was obtained, the survey was sent to central Ohio RT department managers, who were then asked to disseminate the survey to their staff. Participants provided information about their demographics, frequency and causes of burnout, levels of pre/post-pandemic burnout, which resources were offered by their institution and which resources were utilized by staff. Burnout being defined as an occupational stress related phenomenon, and is manifested by three dimensions, emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a reduced sense of personal accomplishment.

Results:

Of the 102 responses, 58 responses were found to be complete. It was found that 81% of therapists believed that their burnout had increased since the onset of the pandemic and 53.4% were experiencing burnout often. The most common effects of burnout (Figure 1) were fatigue (82.8%), anxiety (69%), and personal health worries (60.3%). The main sources/causes of burnout were inadequate staffing (81%), increased patient acuity (79.3%) and poor patient outcomes (74.1%). When asked what resources were offered by institutions participants responses included: financial support/COVID leave (75.9%), educational sessions (44.8%) and staff feedback sessions (44.8%). Despite this there were much lower percentages of individuals who actually utilized these resources (Figure 2).

Conclusions:

An overwhelming majority of participants reported an increase in the frequency of RT burnout since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, a majority of participants reported an increase in the severity of the burnout they were experiencing. While many hospitals have tried to adapt and offer different resources to help manage burnout, not every resource is being fully or equally utilized by RTs. RT departments should explore solutions to manage sources of burnout that are manageable and within their ability to change.