The Relationship Between the COVID-19 Pandemic and Burnout Among the Healthcare Team

Abstract

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic led to significant challenges physically and emotionally for healthcare workers. Frontline workers treating COVID-19 patients have battled stressful work environments, high patient mortality, lack of personal protective equipment (PPE), and feelings of exhaustion and powerlessness. This research study explored the relationship that COVID-19 has had on employees’ feelings and attitudes regarding their job. Methods: This quantitative research project took pace in an Emergency Department in Boston, MA. The paper questionnaire contained demographic questions and the Maslach Burnout Inventory was used as a guide. The variables that were examined were gender, age, number of years working in the emergency department, job category, and marital status. This tool was designed to measure burnout among human service professionals. The inventory contains three scales; emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment, and contains 22 questions that are rated on a seven-point scale from never to every day. The emotional exhaustion section contains nine questions and reflects fatigue or stress. Depersonalization contains five questions and refers to feelings of callousness or indifference in regard to recipients, i.e. patients. Personal accomplishment contains eight questions and examines feelings of enthusiasm and effectiveness. The overall aim of the survey was to determine the relationship the COVID-19 pandemic had on employee burnout. Sample: A convenience sampling of all employees in one emergency department in the Boston area were recruited for this study. A total of 110 participants were recruited through word of mouth during shift huddles, as well as, during rounds on the unit with the team. The survey was open to all employees who worked in the emergency department, without regard to job title. Responses remained anonymous, participants were informed that their responses were used for an academic research project, and that they could not withdraw from the study once they had completed the survey as it was anonymous. Data Collection: The tool was administered to physicians, physician assistants, nurses, advanced care providers, medical assistants, social workers, and security officers in the emergency department in a hospital located in in Boston, Massachusetts. The variables that were examined were gender, age, number of years working in the emergency department, job category, and marital status. Once the surveys were collected, an excel spreadsheet was developed and the data analyzed. The results were disseminated to the nurse manager and posted on the bulletin board on the unit. All data that was collected in this research study has been securely stored in the lead researcher’s office for the next three years. Results: Those who had worked in the emergency department greater than 10 years scored higher than their counterparts on emotional exhaustion (11.8%), depersonalization (25.4%), and lack of personal achievement (17.2%). Female scores revealed higher levels of burnout compared to males. Single participants scored higher levels of burnout. Lastly, nurses scored higher on burnout followed by ESA’s (assistants). Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to significant changes in healthcare resulting in higher stress levels, fatigue, and burnout among healthcare workers. COVID-19 will continue to evolve as will healthcare. Further education and research is essential to prevent future pandemics that lead to crisis situations that could exacerbate future burnout in the healthcare industry. Adequate preparation for future pandemic situations could play a key role in prevention of burnout among healthcare teams.