David Yamane, MD; Kimia Zarabian, BS; Kyle Devine, MS; Ivy Benjenk, RN, PhD; Katherine Farrar, PA; Owen Lee Park, MD; Justin Kim, MSN, APRN; Danielle Davison, MD; Eric Heinz, MD, PhD
Corresponding Author: Eric Heinz, MD, PhD; The George Washington University Hospital - Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care.
Contact Email: eheinz@mfa.gwu.edu
Section: Original Research
Publication Date: 3/22/2022
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted healthcare workers (HCW). Most research focused on the adverse mental health effects during the initial surge of cases; and yet little is known about how workers are faring one year into the pandemic. The objective of this study is to examine stress, burnout, and risk perception in an academic medical system, one year after the start of the pandemic.
METHODS: HCW across care specialties participated in online surveys in Spring 2020 and Spring 2021. The surveys included questions related to workplace stress and risk perception related to COVID-19. Correlates of stress and burnout were explored using multivariable linear regression models. Professional Quality of Life Scale (PROQOL) questions were added to the second survey.
RESULTS: While HCW reported significantly fewer concerns about the risk of COVID-19 transmission to themselves and their families during the 2021 survey (compared to 2020), the percentage of workers who reported feeling excess stress at work or considered resigning stayed the same. One year into the pandemic, 57% of study participants met criteria for moderate or high levels of traumatic stress and 75% met criteria for moderate or high levels of burnout. As compared to participants who cared for no COVID deaths, participants who cared for COVID patients who died had significantly higher traumatic stress (1-10: Coef.=2.7, p=0.007; >10: Coef.=6.7, p<0.001) and burnout scores (1-10: Coef.=2.7, p=0.004; >10: Coef.=2.6, p=0.036).
CONCLUSION: While perceptions of risk declined over the course of the year, levels of stress still remained high despite high vaccination rates. Those who witnessed more COVID-19 deaths were more likely to report increased burnout and post-traumatic stress. As our nation continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic and new variants emerge it is imperative to focus on recovery strategies for high burnout groups to ensure the wellbeing of our healthcare workforce.