NAVIGATING THE PRESSURES: ADDRESSING OCCUPATIONAL STRESS AND BURNOUT AMONG ANESTHESIOLOGISTS AND ICU PROFESSIONALS

Occupational stress and burnout have become critical issues in healthcare, particularly among anesthesiologists and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) professionals.By addressing these issues, we aim to foster a healthier work environment that can sustain the vital contributions of anesthesiologists and ICU personnel.Materials and methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 49 anesthesiologists and intensive care unit (ICU) physicians working in several hospitals in the City of Iai, Romania.The survey included the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), and additional demographic questions regarding job seniority, age, sex, and marital or long-term partnership status.Results: underscores the central role of stress management in preventing emotional exhaustion.Al though the regression did not identify age, sex, or marital status as statistically significant predictors, the data trends still point to meaningful subgroup differences.These results align with previous research emphasizing the psychological toll of sustained high -pressure clinical environments where women may be more prone to emotional exhaustion, and younger male professionals may face higher risks of depersonalization.Conclusions: This study underlines the need for targeted interventions aimed at managing perceived stress as a method of preventing professional burnout.Promoting mental health, work-life balance, and organizational support should become institutional priorities, especially in critical areas such as anesthesia and intensive care.