Purpose
To describe the prevalence of burnout among healthcare professionals dealing with COVID-19 patients and the associated factors.
Methods
In this cross-sectional survey, healthcare workers at six university-affiliated hospitals, who had been taking care of COVID-19 patients were studied. Age, gender, marital status, having children, hospital, job category, experience, and work load, as well as the level of burnout in each subscale were measured.
Results
326 persons (53.0%) experienced high levels of burnout. The average score in emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and lack of personal accomplishment was 26.6, 10.2, and 27.3, respectively. The level of burnout in the three subscales varied based on the personal as well as work-related factors and gender was the only variable that was associated with high levels of all three domains.
Conclusions
Burnout is prevalent among healthcare workers caring for COVID-19 patients. Age, gender, job category, and site of practice contribute to the level of burnout that the staff experience.
Background: The unpredictable nature of the new COVID-19 pandemic and the already alarming incidence of healthcare workers being affected can have a significant impact on the psychological well-being of the staff.
Objective: To describe the prevalence of burnout among healthcare professionals and the associated factors.
Design: Cross-sectional survey.
Setting: Eight university affiliated hospitals in the capital city of Tehran, Iran.
Participants: All healthcare workers at the study sites who had been taking care of COVID-19 patients.
Measurements: Age, gender, marital status, having children, hospital, job category, experience, and work load, as well as the level of burnout in each subscale.
Results: 326 persons (53.0%) experienced high levels of burnout. The average score in emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and lack of personal accomplishment was 26.6, 10.2, and 27.3, respectively. The level of burnout in the three subscales varied based on the personal as well as work related factors and gender was the only variable that was associated with high levels of all three domains.
Limitations: There was no control group and thus we cannot claim a causal relationship between COVID-19 and the observed level of burnout. Not all confounding factors might have been accounted for.
Conclusions: Burnout is prevalent among healthcare workers caring for COVID-19 patients. Age, gender, job category, and site of practice contribute to the level of burnout that the staff experience.
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