Health care worker burnout after the first wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Japan

Abstract

Objectives To determine the prevalence of burnout according to job category after the first wave of COVID‐19 in Japan and to explore its association with certain factors. Methods An online cross‐sectional survey of health care workers (HCWs) from June 15 to July 6, 2020, was conducted at a tertiary hospital in Tokyo, Japan. Demographic characteristics, results of the Japanese version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory‐General Survey, types of anxiety and stress, changes in life and work after the peak of the pandemic, and types of support aimed at reducing the physical or mental burden, were determined. Results Of 672 HCWs, 149 (22.6%) met the overall burnout criteria. Burnout was more prevalent in women (OR, 3.11; 95% CI, 1.45‐6.67, P = .003), anxiety due to unfamiliarity with personal protective equipment (PPE) (OR, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.20‐3.27, P = .007), and decreased sleep duration (OR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.20‐3.20, P = .008). Conversely, participants who felt that the delivery of COVID‐19‐related information (OR, .608; 95% CI, .371‐.996, P = .048) and PPE education opportunities (OR, .484; 95% CI, .236‐.993, P = .048) and messages of encouragement at the workplace (OR, .584; 95% CI, .352‐.969; p = .037) was helpful experienced less burnout. Conclusions There is a need to focus on the above factors to maintain the mental health of HCWs. The delivery of COVID‐19‐related information and educational interventions for PPE and messages of encouragement at the workplace may be needed to reduce the mental burden.

The sustained psychological impact of coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on hospital workers 2 years after the outbreak: a repeated cross-sectional study in Kobe

“…Second is the external validity as the present study was conducted at a single facility. However, the present results have commonality with the studies conducted in other cities in Japan [ 29 , 31 , 54 ]. They showed that female, nurse compared with doctors felt more event-related distress and burnout.This commonality may indicate that the present results have external validity in some way.…”

The sustained psychological impact of coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on hospital workers 2 years after the outbreak: a repeated cross-sectional study in Kobe

“…Second is the external validity as the present study was conducted at a single facility. However, the present results have commonality with the studies conducted in other cities in Japan [ 29 , 31 , 54 ]. They showed that female, nurse compared with doctors felt more event-related distress and burnout.This commonality may indicate that the present results have external validity in some way.…”

The sustained psychological impact of coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on hospital workers 2 years after the outbreak: a repeated cross-sectional study in Kobe

“…Second is the external validity as the present study was conducted at a single facility. However, the present results have commonality with the studies conducted in other cities in Japan [29,31,52]. They showed that female, nurse compared with doctors felt more event-related distress and burnout.This commonality may indicate that the present results have external validity in some way.…”

Analysis of Psychological Trends and Policy Recommendations of Medical Staff in Northern China in the Latter Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…The rates of anxiety and depression were 14 and 19% in the general public in Hong Kong, respectively (Choi et al, 2020 ; Tang et al, 2020 ). For medical staff, a certain percentage of medical staff had anxiety, depression, burnout or clinically-relevant psychosocial distress, confirmed by investigation studies conducted in other countries such Kenya, Japan, and Canada (Binnie et al, 2021 ; Kwobah et al, 2021 ; Matsuo et al, 2021 ). In this study, the rates of anxiety and depression were 21.1 and 43.9% in the whole sample, respectively, which were lower than those in COVID-19 patients or the people with a special background and higher than those in other populations.…”

The sustained psychological impact of coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on hospital workers 2 years after the outbreak: a repeated cross-sectional study in Kobe

“…Second is the external validity as the present study was conducted at a single facility. However, the present results have commonality with the studies conducted in other cities in Japan [ 29 , 31 , 54 ]. They showed that female, nurse compared with doctors felt more event-related distress and burnout.This commonality may indicate that the present results have external validity in some way.…”

The sustained psychological impact of coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on hospital workers 2 years after the outbreak: a repeated cross-sectional study in Kobe

“…Second is the external validity as the present study was conducted at a single facility. However, the present results have commonality with the studies conducted in other cities in Japan [29,31,52]. They showed that female, nurse compared with doctors felt more event-related distress and burnout.This commonality may indicate that the present results have external validity in some way.…”

Analysis of Psychological Trends and Policy Recommendations of Medical Staff in Northern China in the Latter Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…The rates of anxiety and depression were 14 and 19% in the general public in Hong Kong, respectively (Choi et al, 2020 ; Tang et al, 2020 ). For medical staff, a certain percentage of medical staff had anxiety, depression, burnout or clinically-relevant psychosocial distress, confirmed by investigation studies conducted in other countries such Kenya, Japan, and Canada (Binnie et al, 2021 ; Kwobah et al, 2021 ; Matsuo et al, 2021 ). In this study, the rates of anxiety and depression were 21.1 and 43.9% in the whole sample, respectively, which were lower than those in COVID-19 patients or the people with a special background and higher than those in other populations.…”

The sustained psychological impact of coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on hospital workers 2 years after the outbreak: a repeated cross-sectional study in Kobe

“…Second is the external validity as the present study was conducted at a single facility. However, the present results have commonality with the studies conducted in other cities in Japan [ 29 , 31 , 54 ]. They showed that female, nurse compared with doctors felt more event-related distress and burnout.This commonality may indicate that the present results have external validity in some way.…”

The sustained psychological impact of coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on hospital workers 2 years after the outbreak: a repeated cross-sectional study in Kobe

“…Second is the external validity as the present study was conducted at a single facility. However, the present results have commonality with the studies conducted in other cities in Japan [29,31,52]. They showed that female, nurse compared with doctors felt more event-related distress and burnout.This commonality may indicate that the present results have external validity in some way.…”

Analysis of Psychological Trends and Policy Recommendations of Medical Staff in Northern China in the Latter Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…The rates of anxiety and depression were 14 and 19% in the general public in Hong Kong, respectively (Choi et al, 2020 ; Tang et al, 2020 ). For medical staff, a certain percentage of medical staff had anxiety, depression, burnout or clinically-relevant psychosocial distress, confirmed by investigation studies conducted in other countries such Kenya, Japan, and Canada (Binnie et al, 2021 ; Kwobah et al, 2021 ; Matsuo et al, 2021 ). In this study, the rates of anxiety and depression were 21.1 and 43.9% in the whole sample, respectively, which were lower than those in COVID-19 patients or the people with a special background and higher than those in other populations.…”