Burnout and Factors Affecting Burnout among Medical Professionals in Critical Care Department in A Tertiary Care Hospital of Eastern India

INTRODUCTION: The intensive care unit (ICU) can be a stressful environment for patients and their families, with documented long-term consequences.(1,2) Due to difficult daily tasks, exposure to high patient mortality, and difficult ethical dilemmas, those who provide care for critically ill patients may endure significant stress.(3,5,6) New conceptual models have emerged due to the recent international expansion of burnout research. The emphasis on engagement, the constructive opposite of burnout, holds potential for generating fresh ideas for burnout-reduction strategies(4). Internal medicine intensivists seem to experience burnout frequently, according to the MBI. So burnout is contagious: it may cross over from one staff member to another. A weak support network is linked to high levels of emotional weariness and depersonalization in addition to problems with patient care.(17,18). In some countries, burnout is used as a medical diagnosis, whereas in other countries it is a non-medical, socially accepted label that carries a minimum stigma in terms of a psychiatric diagnosis.(16) Burnout is a three-dimensional syndrome, according to Maslach and Jackson (1981), in which the affected person exhibits low levels of emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (D), or cynicism, when interacting with patients. The concept of burnout has been extensively researched in the four decades since it was first identified; it has a negative impact on the professionals who experience it, the organizations where they work, and the patients they are tasked with caring for. Burnt-out professionals may show a range of symptoms, such as headaches, insomnia, chronic exhaustion, and hypervigilance. Decreased performance in medical organizations has been associated with burnout OBJECTIVES: This study has three objectives: To assess burnout levels in critical care units (low, medium or high). To identify factors associated with burn out among critical care professionals. To identify the mitigation strategies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study Design: Prospective cross-sectional study Inclusion Criteria: All staff participated form critical care units. The survey was anonymous and response was not linked with participant's identity. Exclusion Criteria: Staff not participated in google form and staff with incomplete data. Duration of Study: October 2023 – November2023 Sample Size: The sample consisted of n = 50 professionals Sampling Technique: Random sampling Data Collection Procedure: Primary data – Collected through Google forms of Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) Data Analysis: The mean and the standard deviation were used for the continuous variables and frequency analysis for classification of the variables. The Pearson correlation for evaluating the relationship between the quantitative variables and the different dimension of the MBI. The data were analysed using SPSS V25.0. RESULTS: DISCUSSIONS/CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows that around 64% of the personnel of the critical care reported that they have a high score in Depersonalization dimension, 94% show a low Personal accomplishment score, and 64% show a moderate score in the emotional exhaustion dimension. Also, 19 had burnout with high EE and low PA. 2/12 doctors (6.67%) of doctors and 6/38 nurses (42.1%) showed symptoms of burnout on high EE and low PA. The present study showed that designation was significantly related (as evident in Chi chi-square and T test) to the presence of burnout among critical care personnel. It was evident from the study that burnout was found more in nurses than doctors. 53% of caregivers reported experiencing severe stress. Higher caregiver stress was strongly correlated with the patient's poor quality of life (P=.006). Additionally, the Insomnia Severity Index scores of caregivers who were classified as strained were considerably greater than those of caregivers who were not strained (P=.007).(5) Five studies found a prevalence of secondary traumatic stress ranging from 0% to 38.5%, whereas two studies reported a prevalence of compassion fatigue of 7.3% and 40%, respectively. In the intensive care unit, the reported prevalence of burnout ranged from 0% to 70.1%(8). Approximately one-half of the intensivists presented a high level of burnout. Organizational factors, but not factors related to the patients, appeared to be associated with burnout.(13–15) Previous studies have also shown no association between demographic characteristics and burnout or work satisfaction. But this study showed that burnout is statistically significantly associated with designation of the critical care personnel Because the critical care job is emotionally taxing and high-stress, individuals can also employ mitigation techniques, strategies can be adopted like self-care practices that prioritize physical health, mindfulness, relaxation, boundaries, and downtime. The current emphasis on burnout syndrome in critical care is an important step, but recognition and awareness of all the psychological symptoms experienced by clinicians are crucial.(7) Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression are more likely amongst caregivers of patients who experience overly aggressive treatments.(9) Nurses and junior physicians reported it more frequently (both p ≤ 0.001 compared to senior physicians), and young physicians reported the highest level of emotional weariness (p ≤ 0.015 compared to senior physicians and nurses). They also intended to depart at a higher rate than nurses (p = 0.024). High workload and poor departmental coordination were predictors of nonbeneficial treatment (both p < 0.001). Female residents had lower scores on the Depersonalization scale of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (t=3.37, p=0.001). Parenting was associated with lower Depersonalization (t=3.98, p<0.001) and Emotional Exhaustion (t=2.59, p=0.011). In this systematic review, there was substantial variability in prevalence estimates of burnout among practicing physicians and marked variation in burnout definitions, assessment methods, and study quality(10–12) Peer support groups, journaling, counseling, and stress management training are all options for developing emotional resilience. Workplace culture initiatives like De-stigmatize Seeking Help, Recognition Programs, and Foster Supportive Environment are examples of organizational-level strategies that need to be taken into account. It is important to think about balanced workload management, which includes appropriate staffing levels, flexible scheduling, and regular breaks to lessen mental and physical exhaustion. Combining these tactics will help healthcare systems provide critical care workers with a more sustainable and healthy work environment, which will eventually benefit patients and providers alike.