Pandemic Burnout: Understanding the Pandemic-led Burnout Among Medical and Non-medical Workers

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected healthcare facilities around the world. With the virus spreading rapidly, hospitals have been burdened with an almost unprecedented load of cases. In view of this new situation, it is crucial to protect healthcare personnel from psychological discomfort in order to reduce dropout intent, burnout, and resignation.

Previous studies on healthcare employees in COVID-19 hospitals have reported a high prevalence of burnout. Most of these studies, however, concentrated only on medical workers. Although medical employees are vital in managing the pandemic, other hospital workers are also required for hospitals to deliver quality healthcare.

Therefore, this study evaluated the prevalence of burnout among both medical and nonmedical workers at a COVID-19 dedicated hospital and determined factors associated with burnout. One hundred and seventy-nine medical and non-medical workers were surveyed to calculate the burnout percentage among the respondents.

The researchers observed almost equal levels of burnout in both medical and non-medical workers. Factors such as anxiety in relation to infection with COVID-19, self-quarantine, stress behavior of patients, and lack of sleep along with a desire for more off days, increased staff, hazard pay, and resources for coping with stress were found to be associated with burnout. Increasing the number of off days and staff, raising the hazard pay, and ensuring the availability of resources to cope with stress can help bring down burnout levels, suggest the authors. Other studies have also suggested ensuring adequate provision and training on the use of personal protective equipment, strict infection control practices, shorter shift length, and mental health support services for workers.

In conclusion, burnout is prevalent among both medical and non-medical workers associated with COVID-19 care centers. However, burnout along with dropout intention, and resignation of hospital staff can be reduced through effective system-level solutions.

Link to the original journal article:
https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/eohp/3/1/3_2021-0014-BR/_article/

Title of the paper

Survey of job stress and burnout among employees of various occupations at a COVID-19-dedicated hospital

Authors

Chizumi Yamada, Noriaki Kishimoto, Yumi Masuda, Yoichi Tanaka, Ichiro Kuwahira, Osamu Chino, Akinori Ebihara, Koichi Shiraishi, Yasuhiro Nishizaki

DOI

10.1539/eohp.2021-0014-BR

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