Exploring burnout, resilience and the coping strategies among critical healthcare professionals in post-COVID Taiwan

The mental well-being of critical healthcare professionals is a global public health issue, but its characteristics vary geographically. This study investigates the features of burnout, resilience, and coping strategies among critical healthcare professionals in Taiwan during the post-pandemic era. A survey incorporating the Maslach Burnout Inventory for Medical Professionals (MBI-MP) and the 14-item Resilience Scale (RS-14) was conducted between December 2023 and January 2024, targeting critical healthcare professionals at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Foundation. Among 254 participants, the overall burnout rate was 35.4%, with high emotional exhaustion (EE, 70.9%), high depersonalization (DP, 56.3%), and low personal accomplishment (PA, 60.6%). The average resilience score was 70.7 ± 12.3. Younger, unmarried individuals and those with less work experience exhibited lower resilience and higher burnout scores. Resilience was significantly associated with reduced EE (p < 0.001), reduced DP (p < 0.001), and increased PA (p < 0.001). Family and friend companionship was the most common coping strategy. A high prevalence of burnout and low resilience was observed among critical healthcare professionals in Taiwan during the post-pandemic era. Identifying vulnerable populations and implementing locally tailored strategies are crucial to supporting the mental well-being of healthcare professionals.