Burnout Among Intensive Care Units Physicians and Nurses at Tertiary Care Hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Introduction: Medical staff, particularly those working in the intensive care unit (ICU), are among the populations most vulnerable to stress and burnout. The objective of this study was to estimate and compare the prevalence of burnout among ICU physicians and nurses at tertiary care hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 159 ICU physicians and nurses from four tertiary hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia were included in the study. The study was conducted between July 2021 and March 2022. The participants were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire consisting of two sections. The first section collected demographic data, while the second section focused on assessing burnout using Maslach Burnout Inventory™️ (MBI) for Medical Personnel. Results: The overall prevalence of burnout among all participants was 60%. The mean score for emotional exhaustion (EE) was 27.93 ± 12.14, for low personal accomplishment (PA), it was 29.62 ± 9.51, and for depersonalization (DP), it was 11.46 ± 6.71. Factors identified to be associated with burnout include age, gender, job rank and type, number of shifts per week, number of hours per shift and smoking status. Conclusion: The findings of this study highlight the high risk of stress and burnout among ICU staff, characterized by exhaustion, depersonalization, and a lack of accomplishment. It is crucial for critical care societies and policymakers to take proactive measures in developing policies aimed at addressing the underlying causes of stress and reducing burnout.