Healthcare worker burnout during a persistent crisis: a case-control study.
S Appelbom1, A Nordström1, A Finnes2
1Department of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Occupational Medicine (Oxford, England)
|May 13, 2024
Summary
High burnout symptoms in healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic persisted for up to a year. Psychological support did not alleviate these symptoms, highlighting the need for systemic preventive measures.
Area of Science:
- Medical and Health Sciences
- Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- COVID-19 pandemic led to increased burnout among healthcare workers.
- Need to understand symptom development during the prolonged crisis.
- Longitudinal data crucial for assessing persistent effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate if initial high burnout predicts later burnout and depressive symptoms.
- Examine the impact of psychological support on symptom levels.
- Assess long-term effects up to one year post-initial wave.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal case-control study of 581 healthcare workers.
- Data collected at baseline (May 2020) and three follow-ups until September 2021.
- Logistic regression analyzed burnout and depression symptoms, controlling for work factors and support participation.
Main Results:
- One in five healthcare workers reported high burnout at baseline.
- High baseline burnout predicted higher burnout and depressive symptoms at all follow-ups.
- Psychological support participation showed no association with symptom reduction.
Conclusions:
- Healthcare organizations must monitor staff psychological well-being, especially those in frontline roles.
- Preventive strategies for burnout are essential in healthcare workplaces and education.
- Proactive measures are needed to prepare for future health crises.
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