Assessment of burnout levels among anesthesiologists and anesthesiology technicians in Kosovo: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Anaesthesiology practitioners experience extraordinary pressure and stress in their daily work. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this research is to assess the occupational factors and burnout syndrome among anaesthesiologists and anaesthesiology technicians in Kosovo. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study carried out on a sample of 154 (out of 220) anaesthesiologists and anaesthesiology technicians in Kosovo. We collected the data using the Maslach Burnout Inventory and Occupational Role Stressors Scale. RESULTS: The mean ± SD age of the study sample was 42.5 ± 8.7 years, and 57% of them were working more than 40 h per week. A high level of burnout in terms of depersonalization (DP) was found among 48 of anaesthesiologists and anaesthesiology technicians, 26 had high level of emotional exhaustion (EE). EE and DP showed significant positive correlation with work overload, managerial responsibility role, and overall occupational stress (p < 0.05). Female anaesthesiologists and anaesthesiology technicians showed higher score of personal achievement (PA) compared to males (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Approximately one-third of Kosovar anaesthesiologists and anaesthesiology technicians showed high level of burnout and it is rising as work overload and the role of managerial responsibility increases. Increasing the number of employed anaesthesiologists and anaesthesiology technicians in health institutions in Kosovo will lead to a better workload distribution and lower burnout syndrome.

Burnout and job stress of anesthesiologists in the tertiary class A hospitals in Northwest China: A cross-sectional design

“…An Italian study in 2020 assessed burnout among anesthesiologists and intensivists and showed that 79.9% (686) exhibited moderate levels of burnout ( 3 ). A cross-sectional study in Kosovo surveyed 154 anesthesiologists and anesthesia technicians in Kosovo and found that approximately one-third of Kosovar anesthesiologists and anesthesia technicians exhibited high levels of burnout ( 4 ). A U.S. study included 3,898 members of the American Society of Anesthesiologists and showed that 59.2% of the study subjects were at high risk of burnout ( 5 ).…”