Burnout and Mental Health of COVID-19 Frontline Healthcare Workers: Results from an Online Survey

Abstract

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has been prolonged and healthcare workers have become exhausted. The purpose of this study was to investigate burnout and its relationship with mental health in COVID-19 frontline healthcare workers.
 Method: This cross-sectional study was carried out in all hospitals where patients with COVID-19 were admitted in Hamedan, Iran. With the census method and considering the inclusion criteria, 924 COVID-19 frontline healthcare workers participated in this study. Data were collected using a web-based survey consisting of demographic characteristics, GHQ-28, and Maslach Burnout Inventory. Statistical analysis was performed using Stata 14.
 Results: The results showed that the main cause of concern and stress in employees was that it was not clear how long this situation would continue. The results regarding burnout and mental health showed that 29.33% of participants were high in emotional exhaustion (EE), 10.93% were high in depersonalization (DP), 34.31% were low in personal accomplishment (PA), 50.4% had physical symptoms, 50.2% had anxiety and insomnia symptoms, 62.2% had social dysfunction and 17.5% had depression symptoms. The results of the multivariate logistic regression showed that EE had the greatest role in reducing mental health of employees with OR = 6.92 for moderate EE and OR = 39.42 for high EE (P < 0.001).
 Conclusion: COVID-19 frontline healthcare workers are at risk for burnout and poor mental health. Health policies should be implemented to help reduce burnout in healthcare workers. Also, person-directed and organizational-directed interventions to rejuvenate these employees seem necessary.

A systematic review and meta analysis on burnout in physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic: A hidden healthcare crisis

“…In terms of regions, fifteen (33.3%) of studies ( 28 , 41 , 45 , 47 , 51 , 55 , 56 , 58 , 59 , 63 , 67 , 68 , 71 , 72 , 74 ) took place in Asia. Europe ( 8 , 26 , 42 , 48 , 53 , 57 , 60 , 62 , 66 , 69 , 73 ) was represented by 11 (24.4%) studies while the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) ( 25 , 32 , 39 , 44 , 46 , 49 , 50 , 64 , 65 , 70 ) were represented by ten (22.2%) studies each. South America ( 24 , 40 , 52 , 54 , 61 , 75 ), North America ( 27 , 76 ), and Australia ( 43 ) were represented by six (13.3%), two (4.4%), and one (2.2%) study respectively.…”

“…Burnout results between nurses and physicians were compared in fourteen studies ( 32 , 42 , 43 , 53 , 55 , 56 , 62 , 63 , 67 – 71 , 74 ). Twenty-eight studies ( 8 , 25 , 27 , 28 , 32 , 39 , 40 , 42 – 44 , 47 , 49 , 50 , 52 , 53 , 55 – 59 , 62 , 63 , 65 , 67 , 68 , 70 , 73 , 75 ) conducted data collection during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and fifteen ( 24 , 26 , 41 , 44 – 46 , 48 , 51 , 54 , 60 , 62 , 66 , 69 , 71 , 74 , 76 ) studies were conducted during the later stages. Two studies ( 26 , 61 ) did not specify the time of data collection.…”

“…Mean age range of workers was 27-47 years. A total of 27 (8,26,27, studies included both frontline and second-line workers in their studies, while twelve studies (24, 25, 28, 60-68) had only frontline workers and six (32,(69)(70)(71)(72)(73) did not delineate between frontline and second-line workers. In terms of regions, fifteen (33.3%) of studies (28,41,45,47 (25,32,39,44,46,49,50,64,65,70) were represented by ten (22.2%) studies each.…”

“…A total of 27 (8,26,27, studies included both frontline and second-line workers in their studies, while twelve studies (24, 25, 28, 60-68) had only frontline workers and six (32,(69)(70)(71)(72)(73) did not delineate between frontline and second-line workers. In terms of regions, fifteen (33.3%) of studies (28,41,45,47 (25,32,39,44,46,49,50,64,65,70) were represented by ten (22.2%) studies each. South America (24,40,52,54,61,75), North America (27,76), and Australia (43) were represented by six (13.3%), two (4.4%), and one (2.2%) study respectively.…”

“…South America (24,40,52,54,61,75), North America (27,76), and Australia (43) were represented by six (13.3%), two (4.4%), and one (2.2%) study respectively. Burnout results between nurses and physicians were compared in fourteen studies (32,42,43,53,55,56,62,63,(67)(68)(69)(70)(71)74). Twenty-eight studies (8, 25, 27, 28, 32, 39, 40, 42-44, 47, 49, 50, 52, 53, 55-59, 62, 63, 65, 67, 68, 70, 73, 75) conducted data collection during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and fifteen (24, 26, 41, 44-46, 48, 51, 54, 60, 62, 66, 69, 71, 74, 76) studies were conducted during the later stages.…”