Correct use of the Maslach Burnout Inventory to develop evidence-based strategies against burnout syndrome during and post COVID-19 pandemic

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Burnout Syndrome during COVID-19 Pandemic among Healthcare Providers in Thailand

Objective

To study prevalence, risk factors, and consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic related to Burnout syndrome (BOS) among Thai healthcare providers (HCPs) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

We performed a cross-sectional study among HCPs, involved in caring for patients during the pandemic in two periods (1st period, May-Jun 2021, and 2nd period, Sep-Oct 2021). Data were distributed using electronic questionnaires. BOS was defined if respondents exhibited a high level of at least one domain in the Maslach Burnout Inventory criteria. The primary outcome was prevalence of BOS.

Results

Altogether, 2,027 and 1,146 respondents were enrolled in the 1st and 2nd periods, respectively. Most respondents were female (73.3, 68.2%). The top three job positions were physicians (49.2, 58.9%), nurses (41.2, 30.6%), and nursing assistants (4.8, 6.5%), respectively. No difference was found in overall prevalence of Burnout syndrome during the 1st and 2nd periods (73 vs. 73.5%, p=0.80). Using multivariate analysis, significant risk factors for Burnout syndrome in both periods were (1) living with family (odds ratio (OR) 1.3 and 1.5), (2) tertiary care hospital (OR 1.92 and 2.13), (3) nurse (OR 1.38 and 2.29), (4) nursing assistant (OR 0.92 and 4.81), (5) salary ≤40,000 THB (OR 1.53 and 1.53), (6) >20 patients per shift (OR 1.55 and 1.88), (7) >6 shifts after hours monthly (OR 1.26 and 1.49), and (8) ≤1 rest day weekly (OR 1.3 and 1.4).

Conclusion

We found a high prevalence of Burnout syndrome among Thai HCPs during the pandemic. Knowing those risk factors may provide a strategy to BOS during the pandemic.

The relationship between personal-job fit and physical and mental health among medical staff during the two years after COVID-19 pandemic: Emotional labor and burnout as mediators

BACKGROUND

In the context of the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, research on personal-job fit and physical and mental health was inadequate. We aimed to explore the relationship between personal-job fit and physical and mental health among medical staff during the two years after COVID-19 pandemic and verify emotional labor and burnout as mediators.

METHODS

A total of 2868 medical staff from two general hospitals, were included from July 3 to July 27, 2022, in Wuhan, China. SPSS was used for statistical description, and AMOS was used for structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze the mediating effect of emotional labor and burnout.

RESULTS

In the SEM, the total effect of personal-job fit on physical and mental health was significant (β = 0.855, 95 % CI: 0.748-0.972). The mediating effect of surface acting between personal-job fit and physical and mental health was significant (β = 0.078, 95 % CI: 0.053-0.110). The mediating effect of burnout was significant (β = 0.220, 95 % CI: 0.175-0.274), but the mediating effect of deep acting was not significant (β = 0.006, 95 % CI: -0.013-0.025). The chain mediating effect of surface acting or deep acting and burnout between personal-job fit and physical and mental health was significant (β = 0.082, 95 % CI: 0.059-0.108; β = 0.049, 95 % CI: 0.038-0.063).

LIMITATIONS

Owing to the cross-sectional study, causal relationship, and direction of effects among variables could not be determined.

CONCLUSIONS

Personal-job fit has significant direct and indirect effects on physical and mental health. Monitoring and intervening in personal-job fit, emotional labor, and burnout might be effective ways to promoting physical and mental health among medical staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Burnout and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms among medical staff two years after the COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan, China: Social support and resilience as mediators

BACKGROUND

Evidence on the relationship between burnout and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is limited. We aimed to evaluate the association between burnout and PTSD symptoms among medical staff two years after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Wuhan, China, and explore the mediating roles of social support and psychological resilience.

METHODS

A multicenter survey was conducted online from January to March 2022 among healthcare professionals from six general hospitals. Hierarchical linear regression was used to detect the predictors of PTSD symptoms. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the pathways from burnout to PTSD symptoms.

RESULTS

Hierarchical linear regression showed that burnout, social support, and psychological resilience were significant predictors of PTSD symptoms among medical staff. In the SEM, the standardized total effect of burnout on PTSD symptoms was 0.336(bias-corrected 95 % confidence interval [0.303, 0.367], P < 0.001). Social support and psychological resilience partially mediated the relationship between burnout and PTSD symptoms (indirect effects accounted for 22.3 % of the total effect).

LIMITATIONS

Owing to the cross-sectional design, only clues to causal explanations can be provided.

CONCLUSIONS

Burnout has significant direct and indirect effects on PTSD symptoms. Furthermore, social support and psychological resilience might be effective ways to reduce the impact of burnout on PTSD symptoms in medical staff after a major public health outbreak.