Management of burnout among the staff of primary care centres in Spain during the pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

Background The provision of healthcare during the pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus represented a challenge for the management of the resources in the primary care centres. We proposed assessing burnout among the staff of those centres and identifying factors that contributed to its appearance and those that limited it. Methods An observational study which, by means of anonymous questionnaires, collected information about: (i) demographic variables; (ii) the characteristics of each position; (iii) the measures implemented by the medical decision-makers in order to provide care during the pandemic; and (iv) the Burnout Clinical Subtype Questionnaire (BCSQ-36). We performed a descriptive analysis of the burnout mentioned by the staff, and, by means of a multivariate analysis, we identified the factors which influenced it. Using logit models, we analysed whether receiving specific training in COVID-19, feeling involved in decision-making processes, and/or working within different healthcare systems had effects on the development of burnout. Results We analysed the replies of 252 employees of primary care centres in Spain with an average age of 45 (SD = 15.7) and 22 (SD = 11.4) years of experience. 68% of the participants (n = 173) indicated burnout of the frenetic subtype. 79% (n = 200) of the employees had high scores in at least one burnout subtype, and 62% (n = 156) in at least two. Women older than 45 had a lower probability of suffering burnout. Receiving specific training (OR = 0.28; CI95%: 0.11–0.73) and feeling involved in decision-making (OR = 0.32; CI95%:0.15–0.70) each reduced the probability of developing burnout. Working in a different department increased the likelihood of developing burnout of at least one clinical subtype (OR = 2.85; CI95%: 1.38–5.86). Conclusions The staff in primary care centres have developed high levels of burnout. Participation in decision-making and receiving specific training are revealed as factors that protect against the development of burnout. The measures taken to contain the adverse effects of a heavy workload appear to be insufficient. Certain factors that were not observed, but which are related to decisions taken by the healthcare management, appear to have had an effect on the development of some burnout subtypes.

Analysis of mental health effects among nurses working during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A systematic review

“…Subsequently, across time, the context of primary care has become associated with work overload, becoming the centre of care for chronic patients whose follow‐up has been altered by the pandemic, individuals newly diagnosed with COVID‐19, and individuals with persistent COVID‐19 symptoms after infection (Knight & Vancheeswaran, 2021 ). Therefore, as the pandemic has continued, the primary care workforce has become more affected (Aranda‐Reneo et al, 2021 ).…”

Towards a liquid healthcare: primary care organisational and management strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic - a qualitative study

“…This situation neglected a fundamental aspect of efficient communication within healthcare organisations [ 54 ]: that the existence of fluid, two-way communication channels can foster intentionally collaborative practices and teamwork, critical for performing complex tasks during challenging times such as the present pandemic. These practices have been associated with fewer clinical errors [ 55 ] and better outcomes for patients and healthcare systems [ 53 ] – positively affecting work dynamics and limiting stress factors among co-workers [ 56 , 57 ]…”

Emotions in the Time of COVID-19: Affections and Impacts among the Spanish Primary Care Workforce

“…Finally, it is entirely possible that those professionals who chose to participate in our study might have felt more acutely the strain of the pandemic, causing us to overestimate the severity of the situation. However, as far as we know, this is the first study that has explored the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on primary healthcare workers [ 28 ]. This subject can be explored further in future studies—for instance, whether there are better strategies to explore pandemic-related mental and emotional health issues among healthcare professionals, particularly in primary care.…”

“…The study inductively explores the personal experiences of primary care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic—an approach that allows us to register and integrate in the analysis the voices of these professionals as individuals with agency and their experiences during this period. This study is part of a larger, mixed-methods investigation [ 28 ] whose rationale is that while quantitative data provide a general picture of the research problem, a more detailed analysis in the qualitative stage provides a better, broader, and also more refined understanding of the phenomenon studied.…”