Features of stress perception and emotional burnout among employees of medical institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the most affected group of the population were medical workers who had higher risks of infection, illness and psycho-emotional destabilization.

The aim of the study is to assess the peculiarities of perception and response to stressful factors in the conditions of the COVID–19 pandemic of medical institutions’ employees and the degree of their emotional burnout.

Materials and methods. The study was conducted in two consecutive stages by means of an online survey using questionnaires specially developed on the Google platform. At the initial stage, during the “second wave” of the pandemic (November–December 2020), using the “Perceived stress Scale-10”, the peculiarities of perception and response to stress of medical institution employees were analyzed. At the second stage, in the “third wave” of the pandemic (June-July 2021), according to a special questionnaire by K. Maslach and S. Jackson, an assessment of staff burnout was carried out. The criterion for inclusion in the study is the status of an employee of a medical institution; the exclusion criterion is the absence of the fact of work in a medical institution.

Results. A significant variability of overstrain indicators in the stress perception subscale was revealed, with a greater representation of “low” values. Analysis of the parameters on the stress counteraction subscale showed their homogeneity and greater severity of “high” indicators. A high degree of emotional burnout of employees has been established. Risk groups for the formation of emotional burnout syndrome were employees of non-medical specialties, females, with work experience of up to 5 years.

Limitations. Only employees of medical organizations participated in the online survey.

Conclusion. As a result of the study, data were obtained on the psycho-emotional state of medical workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, potential risk groups for the formation of emotional burnout syndrome were identified, requiring primarily professional psychological assistance and support.

Compliance with ethical standards. Each stage of the study was approved at a meeting of the Local Ethics Committee of UMMC-Health LLC (Protocols No. 2e of 29.10.2020 and No. 5e of 03.06.2021). Participation in the survey was voluntary. Each employee independently made a decision on consent to participate in the study and, in case of a positive decision, filled out an online questionnaire.

Contribution of the authors:
Platonova T.A. — research concept and design, material collection and processing, statistical processing, writing the text;
Golubkova A.A. — research concept and design, editing;
Sklyar M.S. — research concept and design, material collection and processing;
Shakhova K.V. — material collection and processing, writing the text;
Smirnova S.S. — material collection and processing, editing.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of its final version.

Acknowledgment. The study had no sponsorship.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Received: June 30, 2022 /  Accepted: September 14, 2022 / Published: February 26, 2024