Evaluation of the impact of COVID-19 on the occupational burnout among shift workers in Hong Kong.

Background/objectives: During the COVID-19 pandemic, workforce across the globe had experienced an unprecedent change in work mode under the quarantine and social distancing policies. Shift work workers, who were at higher risk of burnout, upheld their roles and kept the essential operation of society maintained amidst the pandemic time. The objectives of this study are to evaluate the association between impact of COVID-19 and burnout among shift workers in Hong Kong, and to investigate if there is any association between the infection history and burnout among shift workers.

Methods: Five hundred and thirty eight shift workers (297 males and 241 females of age 33+9) were recruited in this cross-sectional study. Self-administered questionnaire addressing respondents' demographic information, shift characteristic, anxiety level, perception towards COVID-19 and the burnout situation of the respondent were distributed.

Results: The prevalence of burnout among shift workers during pandemic was 39.4%. Engagement in more shifts (aOR = 2.608), 9 to 15-night shift/month (aOR = 1.654), history of frequent infection of COVID-19 (aOR = 2.076), high anxiety level (aOR = 8.599) was associated with higher probability of burnout. Increase in anxiety level correlated to increase in exhaustion (β ₀ = 0.042) and decrease in personal efficacy. ( β ₀ = -0.081).

Conclusion: Impacts by COVID-19 were associated with burnout of shift workers in terms of older age, single status, long shift pattern, night shift, anxiety level as well as infection history. Although World Health Organization has declared the end of COVID-19 pandemic, the post-pandemic burnout situation emerged as an alarming occupational hazard.