Burnout levels of the intensive care unit team during extended COVID-19 outbreak and affecting factors

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to determine how intensive care workers are affected by the pandemic period and the factors affecting burnout. Methods: 45assistants, 76nurses and 40specialists working in a tertiary intensive care unit(ICU) with 70 covid-beds participated in the study. Responses were collected through a website(www.surveymonkey.com). Results: The mean age of the respondents was 34.4±8.6 years, and the mean years of experience were 9.4±8.2. The general Emotional Exhaustion(EE), Depersonalization(DP), Reduced Personal Achievement(RPA) scores of the ICU workers were calculated as 20.7, 8.4 and 20.1 and the general arithmetic mean of the burnout scores was 49.1. It was found that the assistant doctors(AD) group had a statistically significantly higher risk in the EE and DP scales. (p=0,016 p<0,001). It was found that the risk of EE was higher in AD Group without child. Considering the satisfaction correlation of the scales, The rate of dissatisfaction was found statistically significantly higher in the intensive care nurses(ICN) group than AD and specialist doctors(SD) groups (p<0,001). Considering the factors affecting burnout, a statistically significant negative correlation was found between EE and ‘Appreciation at work during the pandemic period’ and ‘Adequacy of physical conditions’ in the SD group (p=0,005 p=0,044). There was a statistically significant negative correlation between RPA and being married in the AD group (p=0,023). A statistically significant negative correlation was found between DP and having a child in the ICN group (p=0,032). Conclusion: It is of importance to reveal the causes of burnout during the pandemic, and to make arrangements Keywords: COVID-19, Intensive Care Unit, Assistant Doctor, Specialist Doctor, Burnout Burnout