Evaluation of healthcare workers in terms of burnout and psychiatric symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine the physicians and allied healthcare personnel working during the COVID-19 outbreak in terms of burnout and psychiatric symptoms. The hypothesis of the study is that the level of burnout and psychiatric symptoms will be found higher in wards with high transmission risk compared to those working in wards with low risk. Physicians and allied healthcare personnel between the ages of 18-65 were included in the study. Participants were divided into two groups as those working in services with high risk of COVID-19 transmission and those who did not work. Sociodemographic data form, Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) were answered by all participants. The responses obtained were statistically compared between the groups and the relationship between the variables with the MBI, BSI and GHQ results were evaluated by linear regression analysis. 577 participants were included in the study. Participants from high (HRCI) risk for COVID-19 infection based on units had statistically significantly higher MBI depersonalization subscale scores compared to those from low (LRCI) risk for COVID-19 infection based on units (p = 0.002). In addition, the BSI phobic anxiety subscale scores of the participants from LRCI units were statistically significantly higher than those from HRCI units (p = 0.005). During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare professionals from HRCI units develop higher depersonalization and lower phobic anxiety than those from LRCI units, which may contribute to their adaptation to work environments. The higher level of phobic anxiety in healthcare professionals from LRCI units may be due to their less exposure to the stimulus. Further studies are required evaluating healthcare workers in terms of burnout and psychiatric symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic.