Well-being in intensive care: reflections from a multinational survey.

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Medicine
• Occupational Health Psychology
• Gender Studies in Healthcare

Background:

• Intensive care unit (ICU) professionals experience significant stress, burnout, and psychological strain.
• Multinational data on ICU professional well-being, especially concerning gender differences and work-life balance, are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the well-being of ICU professionals globally.
• To explore gender-based disparities in well-being and work-life dynamics within the ICU setting.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was administered to 158 ICU professionals worldwide between October 2023 and June 2024.
• The survey utilized the WHO-5 Well-Being Index and other validated instruments to evaluate eight domains of well-being.
• Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, T-tests, chi-square, and Mann-Whitney U tests.

Main Results:

• The median WHO-5 Well-Being Index score was 68, indicating generally positive well-being.
• Males reported significantly higher well-being scores (72) compared to females (60; p=0.0051).
• High workload, moderate job autonomy, frequent stress, and concerns about job security and career advancement were reported, with gender disparities noted in fairness perceptions.

Conclusions:

• While ICU professionals report generally positive well-being, a notable gender difference exists.
• Workload, job insecurity, and career development challenges require attention.
• Further research is warranted to validate these exploratory findings and address identified disparities.