Factors Associated with Burnout in Medical Staff: A Look Back at the Role of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Despite the significant consequences for medical practice and public health, burnout in healthcare workers remains underestimated. Pandemic periods have increased the reactivity to stress by favoring some changes whose influence are still felt. Purpose: This study aims to identify opportune factors during pandemic periods that predispose medical personnel to burnout and the differences between medical staff which worked with COVID-19 patients and those who did not work with COVID-19 patients. Material and Methods: This is a prospective study on 199 subjects, medical staff and auxiliary staff from national health units, COVID-19 and non-COVID-19, who answered questions using the Google Forms platform about the level of stress related to the workplace and the changes produced there. All statistical analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics (Version 28). Results: The limited equipment and disinfectant solutions from the lack of medical resources category, the fear of contracting or transmitting the infection from the fears in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic category and the lack of personal and system-level experience in combating the infection due to the lack of information on and experience with COVID-19 were the most predisposing factors for burnout. No significant differences were recorded between those on the front line and the other healthcare representatives. Conclusions: The results of this study identify the stressors generated in the pandemic context with prognostic value in the development of burnout among medical personnel. At the same time, our data draw attention to the cynicism or false-optimism stage of burnout, which can mask a real decline.