Psychological wellbeing and the association with burnout in a cohort of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

The influence of COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of pharmacists as frontline health care providers in Nepal

Background

Due to COVID-19, pharmacists have been exposed to a variety of dangers that have an impact on their mental health. The study highlights that impact of COVID-19 and work led to burnout among them. Thus, it is necessary to offer mental health services.

Aims

To assess the impact of COVID-19 on the work of pharmacy professionals and ascertain the extent of the influence of burnout on mental health among pharmacists working as frontline health providers in Nepal.

Methods

Pharmacists from Province 2, 3, and 5 in Nepal participated in a self-administered questionnaire that assessed mental health and wellbeing and burnout using 16-item OLBI. Data was collected from January 2023-March 2023. Independent sample t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation, and linear regression were employed to identify any significant connections between burnout and mental health and wellbeing.

Results

Out of 243 participants, COVID-19 pandemic and work was found to have a negative impact on the mental health and wellbeing of a 33.7% of pharmacists. Participants reported having financial issues in 41.6% of cases and 9.5% considered leaving the profession and were concerned about the provision of service quality and making mistakes at work. A strong and meaningful positive relationship and linear regression were observed between exhaustion, disengagement, burnout, mental health and wellbeing. Pharmacists working part-time (p < 0.050) in hospital settings experienced burnout as a result of insufficient training, extended working hours, and stress both on and off the job.

Conclusions

Pharmacists are to prioritize a healthy work-life balance, which includes avoiding prolonged shifts >8 h, regular physical exercise and promote open communication among colleagues to address workplace concerns.

The association of burnout with work absenteeism and the frequency of thoughts in leaving their job in a cohort of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction

During the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, high levels of burnout were reported among healthcare workers. This study examines the association of work absenteeism and frequency of thoughts in leaving current job with burnout among a cohort of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey of healthcare workers was conducted from April-May, 2022 on healthcare workers from 10 hospitals, 18 immediate care centers, and 325 outpatient practices in the Chicago area and surrounding Illinois suburbs. Logistic regression models were used to assess the association of burnout scores (Oldenburg Burnout Inventory-OLBI) and its sub-scores (exhaustion and disengagement scores) with work absenteeism and thoughts of leaving work.

Results

One-fifth and 60% of respondents (n = 1,825) reported unplanned absenteeism and thoughts of leaving their job, respectively. After adjusting for covariates, higher burnout scores, especially exhaustion scores, were associated with increased odds of unplanned absenteeism (OR = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01-1.08). Burnout scores and both sub-scores were also positively associated with the frequency of thoughts of leaving work, e.g., each unit increase in the OLBI burnout score was associated with 1.39 (95% CI: 1.34-1.43) times higher odds of thinking about leaving work "a lot/constantly" vs. "never".

Discussion

Overall, this study cohort showed a positive association between burnout scores and unplanned work absenteeism (and frequency of thoughts in leaving job) during the COVID-19 pandemic. More research is needed to support healthcare worker well-being during times of stress and direct solutions to addressing unplanned absenteeism in the light of a pandemic.

The role of bidirectional associations between depression, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion on turnover intention among nurses: a multicenter cross-sectional study in China

BACKGROUND

A high turnover rate in nursing has become a global concern. Mental health issues may increase the turnover intention of nurses and lead to turnover behaviors. However, very little is known about the role of bidirectional associations between emotional exhaustion and depression/anxiety on turnover intention. This study aimed to examine the associations among depression, anxiety, emotional exhaustion and turnover intention, and to test the role of bidirectional associations between depression, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion on turnover intention among nurses.

METHODS

An online multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted in Hunan Province, China, from December 2021 to February 2022. The questionnaire collected data from the Turnover Intention Scale, the Emotional Exhaustion Scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire-2, and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-2, as well as sociodemographic information. Data analysis was performed by univariate analysis, Pearson correlation analysis, multiple linear regression analysis, and structural equation modeling.

RESULTS

The average turnover intention score among Chinese nurses was 14.34 ± 3.75. The prevalence of depression and anxiety was 25.9% and 22.3%, respectively. Depression (r = 0.378, P < 0.001), anxiety (r = 0.391, P < 0.001), and emotional exhaustion (r = 0.532, P < 0.001) were positively associated with turnover intention. Emotional exhaustion partially mediated the associations between depression/anxiety and turnover intention, with both mediating effects accounting for 60.7%. The mediating ratios of depression/anxiety on the associations between emotional exhaustion and turnover intentions were 17.6% and 16.5%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Depression, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion showed significant positive effects on turnover intention among nurses. Emotional exhaustion played a partial mediation role between depression/anxiety and turnover intention, while depression/anxiety played no significant mediation role between emotional exhaustion and turnover intention.