Burnout among Portuguese healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

Data de publicação: 07/12/2020 Data Ahead of Print: 07/12/2020

Autores da FMUP

• Ivone Maria Resende Figueiredo Duarte

  Autor

• Andreia Sofia Costa Teixeira

  Autor

• Cristina Isabel Oliveira Jácome

  Autor

• Fernanda Inês De Carvalho Pereira Ribeiro

  Autor

• Miguel Bernardo Ricou Da Costa Macedo

  Autor

• Pedro Santos Silva

  Autor

• Rui Manuel Lopes Nunes

  Autor

Participantes de fora da FMUP

• Castro, L
• Marina, S
• Ribeiro, C
• Martins, V
• Pinheiro, HC
• Silva, AR
• Sousa, B
• Alves, C
• Oliveira, A
• Serrao, C

Unidades de investigação

• Medicina da Comunidade, Informação e Decisão em Saúde

• Neurociências Clínicas e Saúde Mental

• RISE-Health

  

  Investigador

  Fernando Carlos De Landér Schmitt

Abstract

BackgroundDuring COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers (HCWs) have had high workload and have been exposed to multiple psychosocial stressors. The aim of this study was to evaluate HCWs in terms of the relative contributions of socio-demographic and mental health variables on three burnout dimensions: personal, work-related, and client-related burnout.MethodsA cross-sectional study was performed using an online questionnaire spread via social networks. A snowball technique supported by health care institutions and professional organizations was applied.ResultsA total of 2008 subjects completed the survey. Gender, parental status, marriage status, and salary reduction were found to be significant factors for personal burnout. Health problems and direct contact with infected people were significantly associated with more susceptibility to high personal and work-related burnout. Frontline working positions were associated with all three dimensions. Higher levels of stress and depression in HCWs were significantly associated with increased levels of all burnout dimensions. Higher levels of satisfaction with life and resilience were significantly associated with lower levels of all burnout dimensions.ConclusionsAll three burnout dimensions were associated with a specific set of covariates. Consideration of these three dimensions is important when designing future burnout prevention programs for HCWs.

Keywords

• COVID-19; Healthcare workers; Burnout; Stress; Depression; Resilience; Life satisfaction