Association between Burnout Syndrome and the SARSCov-2 pandemic in healthcare professionals - a literature review

Abstract

Background: The SARS-Cov-2 pandemic has presented numerous challenges to health systems. Exposure to stress scenarios by frontline workers has generated the exhaustion of this group as a response. Consequently, there was an increase in the incidence of Burnout Syndrome (BS) amongst these professionals. Objectives: Analysis of the correlation between BS in the healthcare professionals and the SARS-Cov-2 pandemic. Design and setting: Narrative literature review conducted by Centro Universitário de Mineiros, Campus Trindade. Methods: Articles selected from the PubMed and Scielo database between 2020 and 2021, with the descriptors “Burnout” AND “SARS-CoV-2”. 9 articles were analyzed. Results: The quantitative study carried out by the Jornal Brasileiro de Psiquiatria with 94 nursing technicians working in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic indicated that 25% had BS (p ≤ 0.25). Another study carried out by the same magazine identified health problems as impaired mental health workers. The study was carried out with 123 professionals, using scores from the Self-Reporting Questionnaire, in which approximately 45% had a score compatible with BS (p <0.05). Amongst the causalities, the professionals’ lack of emotional preparation, extended shifts, limited resources, lack of access to updated information, disturbed sleep patterns, anxiety and depression stood out. The increase in these stressors during the pandemic exposed professionals to a greater risk of developing Burnout Conclusions: This study suggests a strong association between the SARSCov-2 pandemic and the development of BS among health professionals, emphasizing the importance of measures to minimize the impact on these professionals’ mental health.