Burnout and anxiety level of healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey

• Published in: Work (Reading, Mass.) Mass.), 2021-01, Vol.70 (1), p.21-29
• Main Authors: Dogru-Huzmeli, Esra, Cam, Yagmur, Urfali, Senem, Gokcek, Ozden, Bezgin, Sabiha, Urfali, Boran, Uysal, Hakan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anxiety; Burnout; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Disease transmission; Health care; Medical personnel; Mental health; Pandemics; Questions
• ISSN: 1051-9815; 1875-9270
• DOI: 10.3233/WOR-210028

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 has affected many countries in the world and has been known as one of the fast-spreading viruses in recent history. OBJECTIVE: Our aim is to reveal the level of anxiety and burnout, attitudes, thoughts, and behaviors of healthcare professionals about COVID-19 in Turkey. METHODS: The individuals included in the study answered seven questions containing demographic information, 27 questions determining their views and perspectives on COVID-19. Anxiety level was measured by Beck Anxiety Scale (BAI), and State Anxiety Inventory (SAI); burnout was measured by Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). RESULTS: We included 66 health staff (50 female, 16 male) whose mean age was 31.71±5.18 years (22–46 ranged). Twenty-two (33.3%) of the participants worked on the COVID-19 frontline while 44 (66.6%) of them worked on usual wards. We found that participants’ anxiety was at a moderate level in BAI (mean: 14.00±12.66). The mean of the SAI was 49.93±13.06. MBI subscales were low. We found that there was a significant difference in BAI between COVID-19 frontline healthcare professionals and those who worked on the usual wards (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: It is important to consider the level of anxiety and burnout in all healthcare professionals and to help them to protect their mental health.