Burnout Syndrome Among Hospital Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Civil War: A Cross-Sectional Study

Muhammed Elhadi; Ahmed Msherghi; Moutaz Elgzairi; Ayiman Alhashimi; Ahmad Bouhuwaish; Marwa Biala; Seraj Abuelmeda; Samer Khel; Ala Khaled; Ahmed Alsoufi; Amna Elmabrouk; Fatimah Bin Alshiteewi; Tasneem Ben Hamed; Bushray Alhadi; Sara Alhaddad; Ahmed Elhadi; Ahmed Zaid

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.579563

Burnout Syndrome Among Hospital Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Civil War: A Cross-Sectional Study

Front Psychiatry. 2020 Dec 11:11:579563. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.579563. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Muhammed Elhadi¹, Ahmed Msherghi¹, Moutaz Elgzairi², Ayiman Alhashimi³, Ahmad Bouhuwaish⁴, Marwa Biala¹, Seraj Abuelmeda¹, Samer Khel¹, Ala Khaled¹, Ahmed Alsoufi¹, Amna Elmabrouk¹, Fatimah Bin Alshiteewi¹, Tasneem Ben Hamed¹, Bushray Alhadi¹, Sara Alhaddad¹, Ahmed Elhadi¹, Ahmed Zaid¹

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.
² Faculty of Medicine, University of Benghazi, Benghazi, Libya.
³ Faculty of Medicine, Al-Jabal Al Gharbi University, Gherian, Libya.
⁴ Faculty of Medicine, Tobruk University, Tobruk, Libya.

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to determine the prevalence of burnout among hospital healthcare workers in Libya during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and civil war. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from April 18 to May 2, 2020 among Libyan healthcare workers. Data on participant characteristics were collected with a specifically designed questionnaire. Burnout was assessed with the abbreviated Maslach Burnout Inventory (aMBI) comprising three subscales: emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and personal accomplishment (PA), with each sub-scale score range from 0 to 18. For EE and DP, scores of 10 to 18 were regarded as "moderate to severe burnout." PA was scored inversely, where a score ≤ 10 indicated severe burnout. Results: The study yielded a sample size of 532 participants. Of these, 357 (67.1%) reported emotional exhaustion (EE Score ≥ 10), 252 (47.4%) reported depersonalization (DP score ≥ 10), and 121 (22.7%) reported a lower sense of personal accomplishment (PA score ≤ 10). Verbal abuse was experienced by 304 participants (57.1%) and physical abuse in 93 (17.5). Gender was associated with high emotional exhaustion and high depersonalization. Being 35 years or older was associated with high depersonalization. Professional specialty was significantly associated with high emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. Fear of COVID-19 infection was associated with high emotional exhaustion and high depersonalization. Conclusion: The rising prevalence of mental disorders and inadequate availability of health services facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic and civil war demonstrated the need for healthcare policies to address the well-being of healthcare workers to decrease the risk of loss, suicide, and medical negligence.

Keywords: COVID-19; coronavirus disease; medical staff; pandemic; professional burnout; psychiatric illness; war exposure.