Occupational burnout among radiation therapy technologists in Italy before and during COVID-19 pandemic

Radiation therapy technologists (RTTs) are exposed to high stress levels which may lead to burnout, which could be further increased by the current pandemic. The aim of our study was to assess burnout and stress among Italian RTTs before and during the pandemic.

The Italian Association of Radiation Therapy and Medical Physics Technologists (AITRO) and the Italian Federation of Scientific Radiographers Societies (FASTeR) proposed a national online survey, including the Maslach Burnout Inventory assessing emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalisation (DP), and personal accomplishment (PA) to RTTs before and during the pandemic. Multivariate regression analyses and χ² tests were used for data analysis.

We obtained 367 answers, 246 before and 121 during the pandemic. RTTs before and during the pandemic showed high EE and DP, intermediate PA. Median EE was 37 (interquartile range [IQR] 31-46] before and 37 (IQR 30-43) during the pandemic, median DP was 16 (IQR 13-21) and 15 (IQR 12-20), respectively. PA was 31 (IQR 28-34) and 32 (IQR 28-34), respectively. Through multivariate analysis, being female and having children led to higher EE scores before and during the pandemic (p≤0.026). Only the presence of workplace stress management courses was related to lower DP before and being female was related to higher DP during the pandemic (p<0.001). Being female, having children, and working with paediatric patients were related to lower PA before and during the pandemic (p≤0.015).

Our study highlighted high burnout levels for RTTs regardless of the pandemic. Future interventions aimed at preventing burnout should be implemented in their work environment, independently of the impact of exceptional events.