Well-being, life satisfaction and burnout in employees of anesthesiology and intensive care departments in Russia

Abstract

Background: Happiness appears to be a protective factor for morbidity and mortality. Nowadays, medical staff faces different psychological stressors, and it necessitates constant monitoring and strong well-being support. Depression is common in medical professionals, and it is closely related to suicide, and it may be a marker of suicide risk. The study focuses on satisfaction with life, psychological well-being, and burnout in anesthesiology and intensive care departments. Methods: This was an anonymous and name-blinded multi-center studysurvey. Paper and electronic questionnaires were sent to the different hospitals in Russia. The study included anesthesiology and intensive care departments employees who voluntarily took part. The primary outcomes were satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Scale of Positive and Negative Experience (SPANE), Brief Inventory of Thriving (BIT), Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI); the study also included questions about suicidal thoughts and reasons to live. Results: 420 anesthesiology and intensive care department employees participated anonymously in the study. Median SWLS were as follows: anesthesiologists -19 points; intensivists -17; nurses -14. The median life satisfaction score was slightly below average. The suicidal thoughts question revealed that 57.9% of employees never thought about suicide. According to MBI: E.E., 51% of anesthesiologists had high scores, 35.8% intensivists, and 50% nurses. DP high scores were present in 31.25% of anesthesiologists, 19.17% of intensivists, 35.9% of nurses. High levels of P.A. were found in 65% of anesthesiologists, 47.5% of intensivists, 25% of nurses. Conclusion: Physicians are exposed to high levels of stress at their work, and at the stage of burnout, this could have far-reaching implications on patients and the healthcare system increase of medical errors. Organizational measures are vital to support the staff's mental health and address burnout through social support and psychological support (psychotherapy). The lack of happiness is a potential contributor to disease risk. The lowest median of satisfaction with life in our study was found among nurses. According to the correlation analysis, we reject the hypothesis about the lack of correlation between life satisfaction and burnout.