Occupational burnout in physicians after the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused crises in almost all areas – healthcare, politics, economics, education, etc. Doctors who faced increased workload and higher stress in the workplace were at maximum risk of developing professional burnout. Purpose. To analyze the indicators of professional burnout syndrome among doctors of COVID hospitals, outpatient clinics and multidisciplinary hospitals 3 years after the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and methods. 3 groups of doctors were included in the study: those who worked in COVID hospitals (n=103); outpatient doctors (n=108) and doctors of multidisciplinary hospitals (n=107), as well as the control group (n=109). A survey was conducted in all groups. To study the syndrome of professional burnout, the questionnaire Maslach Burnout was used. Results. Professional burnout rates were increased in all groups of doctors. COVID hospital doctors have significantly higher rates of “professional exhaustion” and “depersonalization" compared to doctors of multidisciplinary hospitals (p≤0.001) and outpatient doctors (p≤0.001) and a lower rate of "reduction of personal achievements". Risk factors that have the maximum impact on the psychological health of doctors during the COVID-19 pandemic: the risk of infection, social isolation, changes in the organization of working conditions. Conclusion. All groups of doctors demonstrate increased values in the direction of “professional burnout”. Thus, COVID hospital doctors have significantly higher rates of “professional exhaustion”, “depersonalization” and low rates of "reduction of personal achievements", compared with colleagues from multidisciplinary hospitals and outpatient clinics, even after 3 years. Treatment of patients with COVID-19 exposes health workers to specific risk factors: regular contacts with infected patients, significant changes in the organization of work and social distancing, which contributes to an increase in stress and emotional burnout.