Prevalence of Burnout Syndrome in COVID-19 and Non-COVID-19 Units in University Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Study

Romana Ulbrichtova; Viera Svihrova; Maria Tatarkova; Jan Svihra Jr; Martin Novak; Henrieta Hudeckova

doi:10.3390/ijerph191912664

Prevalence of Burnout Syndrome in COVID-19 and Non-COVID-19 Units in University Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Study

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Oct 3;19(19):12664. doi: 10.3390/ijerph191912664.

Authors

Romana Ulbrichtova¹, Viera Svihrova¹, Maria Tatarkova¹, Jan Svihra Jr², Martin Novak¹, Henrieta Hudeckova¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Public Health, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Mala Hora 11149/4B, 036 01 Martin, Slovakia.
² Clinic of Urology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Kollarova 2, 036 59 Martin, Slovakia.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess prevalence and associated risk factors of burnout syndrome among healthcare workers (HCWs), especially among nurses during the pandemic of COVID-19. The sample of the cross-sectional study consists of 201 employees of University Hospital. The Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey for Medical Personnel (MBI-HSS MP) was used. An anonymous questionnaire was administered between 15 January and 1 February 2022. The majority of HCWs were female (79.4%). Overall, 69.2% displayed high levels of emotional exhaustion (EE), 35.3% high levels of depersonalization (DP), and 35.5% low levels of personal accomplishment (PA). Burnout was frequent among staff working in COVID units (EE 76.1%; DP 47.8%; and PA 46.7%). Burnout in EE and DP (70.7% and 36.6%, respectively) significantly prevailed in nurses working in COVID-19 units compared to non-frontline nurses (59.6 and 21.1%, respectively). Prevalence of burnout in PA was significantly higher in nurses working in non-COVID-19 units (47.4% vs. 29.3%). It is crucial to pay attention to the high prevalence of burnout syndrome in HCWs, especially in nurses, and not only in the frontline.

Keywords: COVID-19; burnout syndrome; healthcare workers; nurses.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Burnout, Professional* / epidemiology
Burnout, Professional* / psychology
COVID-19* / epidemiology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Hospitals, University
Humans
Male
Prevalence
Surveys and Questionnaires

Grants and funding

This publication was produced with the support of the Integrated Infrastructure Operational Program for the project New Possibilities for the Management of Serious Diseases in Medical and Preventive Care with Regard to the Safety of Health Professionals (ITMS: 313011AUA5), co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund.