The relationship among burnout, perceived social support and cognitive factors affecting preventive behaviours of healthcare workers: The COVID-19 pandemic period

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background Burnout and social support have been widely examined, but how these factors relate to preventive behaviours against COVID-19 has not yet been studied. This study investigated the relationship among burnout, perceived social support and cognitive factors affecting preventive behaviours of healthcare workers (HCWs) during the pandemic period. Methods A survey was conducted with 360 HCWs working in a large public hospital in Turkey during the pandemic. The survey included the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and two subscales of the Affecting Factors on Preventive Behaviours of COVID-19 Scale, which is based on the Protection Motivation Theory. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, between-group comparison tests, and binary logistic regression. Results Of the HCWs, 38.1% reported high burnout, 20.3% inadequate social support, 51.4% low perceived self-efficacy, and 52.2% low protection motivation. Working in COVID-19 wards and having low perceived self-efficacy increased burnout (OR:1.96, 1.62; P < 0.050). Receiving adequate social support and higher protection motivation increased the perceived self-efficacy (OR:2.03, 4.92; P < 0.025). Lower education and higher perceived self-efficacy increased protection motivation (OR:2.32, 4.24; P < 0.025). Conclusion The results revealed that burnout, protection motivation, and perceived self-efficacy were significantly affected by some risk factors that policymakers should address.