The relationship between working in a hospital during the Covid-19 outbreak and post-traumatic symptoms and burnout among healthcare hospital workers

Background: 

 The COVID-19 pandemic, first emerging in December 2019, placed unprecedented strain on global healthcare systems. Healthcare workers were exposed to unfamiliar traumatic situations. Previous research has documented increased rates of anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and burnout among healthcare professionals during the pandemic.

Objective: 

This quantitative study examined the relationship between hospital work during the COVID-19 pandemic and the development of PTSD symptoms and burnout among hospital staff.

Methods: 

The study was part of a larger research project conducted at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center ("Ichilov" Hospital) by Prof. Sara Freedman, Prof. Carolyn Weiniger, and Dr. Yael Shuval-Zuckerman. Questionnaires assessing burnout, PTSD symptoms, demographic characteristics, and other variables were distributed to 2,000 hospital employees, with 160 responses received. Instruments included a demographic questionnaire, a COVID-19 exposure questionnaire, a COVID-19-related worry scale, the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), and the Burnout Measure Short Version (BMS). Data were analyzed using SPSS, version 28.

Results: 

Employees in dedicated COVID-19 wards reported significantly higher PTSD symptoms and burnout levels compared to those who encountered COVID-19 patients in other wards or in non-COVID wards. Participants living alone reported higher PTSD symptoms but did not differ significantly in burnout levels compared to those living with others. Women reported higher PTSD symptoms than men, with no gender differences observed in burnout. A significant positive correlation was found between higher COVID-19-related worry and increased PTSD symptoms and burnout.

Conclusions: 

Conducted during the COVID-19 emergency phase, this study underscores the long-term psychological consequences of the pandemic for healthcare workers. Findings support the need for continuous psychological support, workload reduction, and recruitment of additional staff to mitigate burnout and PTSD. Follow-up studies are recommended to assess temporal effects, evaluate the effectiveness of support systems, and explore healthcare workers’ coping mechanisms in non-pandemic traumatic contexts to preserve mental well-being, prevent burnout, and retain personnel within the healthcare system