Burnout Syndrome in Anesthesiologists Working with Mechanically Ventilated COVID Patients at the University Hospital Center Osijek

• Published in: Acta clinica Croatica (Tisak) 2023, Vol.62. (Supplement 4), p.27-33
• Main Author: Brdar, Lucija
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: burnout syndrome; COVID-19; pandemic; respiratory ICU
• ISSN: 0353-9466; 1333-9451
• DOI: 10.20471/acc.2023.62.s4.4

This study aimed to examine the incidence and intensity of burnout syndrome among the anesthesiologists who worked with COVID patients in the COVID intensive care unit (Respiratory Centre) and among anesthesiologists and clinicians who did not work in a respiratory ICU during the pandemic in order to compare the difference in the incidence of burnout syndrome and to examine whether there is a difference in burnout syndrome regarding gender, age and level of medical education. Therefore, a cross-sectional study was conducted. The study included 60 participants; 30 of whom were physicians who worked in the respiratory ICU and 30 who did not work in the respiratory ICU during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results were obtained using a questionnaire to classify participants as being without burnout symptoms, in the initial phase of burnout, or having a high degree of burnout. Based on the results, we found that 53% of all physicians presented with burnout syndrome, and the majority of them were anesthesiologists (30%). Furthermore, 37% of anesthesiologists were in the group with an initial phase of burnout and 20% in the group with a high burnout. Among female anesthesiologists, the syndrome was observed in 58% of all cases. In the group of anesthesiologists older than 35 years, 59% of the cases of burnout syndrome were present, where as burnout syndrome was present in 54% of younger anesthesiologists (younger than 35 years old). There was a higher proportion of burnout syndrome among the participants than in previous studies. The anesthesiologists who worked with seriously ill COVID patients during the pandemic were predominant among the physicians with a higher proportion of burnout syndrome. Symptoms were more common among women, physicians older than 35 and specialists.