Comparative Study of Burnout and Other Aspects of Mental Health in Medical Staff Working in Covid-19 and Non-Covid-19 Wards

The Covid-19 pandemic has put unprecedented pressure on the medical staff, leading to mental disorders and burnout.

The present study aimed to compare burnout and other aspects of mental health in medical staff working in Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 wards.

This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Social Determinants of Health Research Center of Qazvin University of Medical Sciences from 10 December 2020 to 16 April 2021. A total of 384 respondents (187 cases in Covid-19 wards and 197 subjects in non-Covid-19 wards) were selected via the convenience sample method. The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and the General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28) were distributed to all participants online. Moreover, sociodemographic data and occupational conditions were collected and analyzed using appropriate statistical methods.

Basedon the results, medical staff working in Covid-19 wards had significantly higher GHQ scores, compared to those in non-Covid-19 wards (29.82±11.07 vs. 25.76±11.83; P<.001, respectively). The risk factors associated with high scores in GHQ subscales included more shifts, being a nurse and being a physician (P<0.05). In terms of burnout subscales, the medical staff working in Covid-19 wards had significantly higher depersonalization and emotional exhaustion, as well as lower individual performance (P<0.05). The risk factors associated with burnout subscales included the female gender, being a nurse, being a physician, having children, confirmed Covid-19 infection, and staff relocation during the Covid-19 pandemic (P<0.05).

As evidenced by the results of the present study, individual variables, along with the prevalence of Covid-19, can affect the psychological consequences of medical staff and be considered a risk factor for each of them.