Occupational Burnout Syndrome in Healthcare Workers before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Šajā literatūras apskatā tiek analizēts izdegšanas sindroma (IS) smagums veselības aprūpes darbiniekiem COVID-19 pandēmijas laikā. Pētījuma mērķis ir izanalizēt potenciālus IS attīstības faktorus, kā arī izmaiņas IS prevalencē veselības aprūpes darbiniekiem.

Kopš pandēmijas sākuma 2020.gada martā, veselības aprūpes darbinieki saskarušies ar nepieredzētiem izaicinājumiem pacientu ārstēšanā un aprūpē. Ne tikai COVID-19 ārstēšana, bet arī izmaiņas administratīvajā darbā, darba apjomā un darba organizācijā, dezinfekcijas pasākumos – tas viss veicināja stresa attīstību veselības aprūpes darbinieku vidū.

Izdegšanas sindroms (IS) ir darba un sabiedrības fenomens, kas attīstās sakarā ar slikti pārvaldītu hronisku stresu darbā. Pirms pandēmijas, veselības aprūpes darbinieki jau bija viena no nozīmīgākām IS attīstības riska grupām. IS raksturīga virkne dažādu simptomu, tai skaitā afektīvi, kognitīvi, uzvedības un motivācijas traucējumi. Šo simptomu progresēšana var novest pie emocionāla un kognitīva izsīkuma, agresijas, depersonalizācijas, apātijas un pat pašnāvības domām.

Šī pētījuma hipotēze: IS prevalence veselības aprūpes darbiniekiem ir pieaugusi sakarā ar riska faktoru pieaugumu pandēmijas laikā. Pētījuma rezultāti apstiprina augstu IS prevalenci veselības aprūpes darbiniekiem, bet neapstiprina nozīmīgu IS prevalences pieaugumu. Tiek atzīmēts arī augsts darbinieku apgrozījums, biežas darbnespējas lapas un izmaiņas darbinieku sastāvā.

Specifiski IS riska faktori, kas raksturīgi COVID-19 pandēmijai ir sieviešu dzimums, darbs lielās slimnīcās, garākas darba stundas, nakts maiņas, IAL trūkums, saskare ar COVID-19 pacientiem. Adekvāts nodrošinājums ar IAL ir saistīts ar zemāku IS prevalenci.

This literature review discusses the severity of Occupational Burnout Syndrome among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim is to analyse potential trigger factors, that might have caused or enhanced OBS, as well as changes in OBS prevalence specifically in healthcare workers. Since the declaration of the pandemic in March 2020, healthcare workers faced unprecedented challenges in medical treatment and care of such patients. Not only did the treatment of COVID-19 patients, but especially changes in administrative work, sterility rules, work pace and workload caused immense stress among healthcare workers. Occupational Burnout Syndrome (OBS) is an occupation specific important medical as well as societal phenomenon resulting from unsuccessfully managed chronic work stress. Prior to the pandemic, healthcare workers were already one of the most susceptible groups to develop occupational burnout syndrome.

OBS presents with a broad range of symptoms, including affective, cognitive, physical, behavioural, and motivational deficits. The progression of this syndrome can lead from exhaustion to emotional, cognitive and behavioural withdrawal from patients/colleagues/work, depression, aggression and even to flattening of emotions, detachment, apathy and in the later stages to meltdown and suicidal thoughts.

A formulated hypothesis of this review is that OBS prevalence has risen among healthcare workers due to the abundance of risk factors while working in healthcare during this pandemic. The results confirm high OBS prevalence among healthcare workers, but a significant increase in prevalence due to the pandemic could not be confirmed. Whereas increased sick days and turnover rates as well as changes in employment-plan among the workers has been widely observed during the pandemic. COVID-19 Pandemic specific OBS risk factors for healthcare workers were female gender, working in highly loaded hospitals, longer working hours, nightshifts, lack of PPE, exposure to COVID-19 patients. On the other hand, adequate PPE has shown to decrease burnout prevalence.