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Vittori A, Marinangeli F, Bignami EG, Simonini A, Vergallo A, Fiore G, Petrucci E, Cascella M, Pedone R. Analysis on Burnout, Job Conditions, Alexithymia, and Other Psychological Symptoms in a Sample of Italian Anesthesiologists and Intensivists, Assessed Just before the COVID-19 Pandemic: An AAROI-EMAC Study. Healthcare (Basel) 2022; 10:healthcare10081370. [PMID: 35893193 PMCID: PMC9394278 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10081370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background. It was previously reported that health care professionals working in the fields of anesthesiology and emergency are at higher risk of burnout. However, the correlations between burnout, alexithymia, and other psychological symptoms are poorly investigated. Furthermore, there is a lack of evidence on which risk factors, specific to the work of anesthetists and intensivists, can increase the risk of burnout, and which are useful for developing remedial health policies. Methods. This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2020 on a sample of 300 professionals recruited from AAROI-EMAC subscribers in Italy. Data collection instruments were a questionnaire on demographic, education, job characteristics and well-being, the Maslach Burnout Inventory Tool, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, the Symptom Checklist-90-R, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale administered during refresher courses in anesthesiology. Correlations between burnout and physical and psychological symptoms were searched. Results. With respect to burnout, 29% of individuals scored at high risk on emotional exhaustion, followed by 36% at moderate–high risk. Depersonalization high and moderate–high risk were scored by 18.7% and 34.3% of individuals, respectively. Burnout personal accomplishment was scored by 34.7% of respondents. The highest mean scores of burnout dimensions were related to dissatisfaction with one’s career, conflicting relationships with surgeons, and, finally, difficulty in explaining one’s work to patients. Conclusions. Burnout rates in Italian anesthesiologists and intensivists have been worrying since before the COVID-19 pandemic. Anesthesiologists with higher levels of alexithymia are more at risk for burnout. It is therefore necessary to take urgent health policy measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Vittori
- Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, ARCO ROMA, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-06-68592397
| | - Franco Marinangeli
- Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Treatment, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy;
- Simulearn, Simulation Center of AAROI-EMAC, 40121 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Elena Giovanna Bignami
- Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine Division, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43121 Parma, Italy;
| | - Alessandro Simonini
- Pediatric Anesthesia and Intensive Care Unit, Salesi Children’s Hospital, 60121 Ancona, Italy;
| | - Alessandro Vergallo
- Simulearn, Simulation Center of AAROI-EMAC, 40121 Bologna, Italy;
- Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Spedali Civili di Brescia, 25121 Brescia, Italy
| | - Gilberto Fiore
- Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Hospital of Santa Croce di Moncalieri, 10024 Turin, Italy;
| | - Emiliano Petrucci
- Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Unit, San Salvatore Academic Hospital of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy;
| | - Marco Cascella
- Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, Istituto Nazionale Tumori—IRCCS, Fondazione Pascale, 80131 Naples, Italy;
| | - Roberto Pedone
- Department of Psychology, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 8100 Caserta, Italy;
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