Serbian Journal of Anesthesia and Intensive Therapy (Jan 2019)
Burnout among neuro anesthesiologists and intensive care physicians a prospective anonymous blind observational study
Abstract
Background. Burnout is the phenomenon of depersonalization, emotional exhaustion, and low personal accomplishment. Burnout can lead to insomnia, sexual disorders, tachycardia, increased pressure, headache, digestive system disorders , destructive behavior, then to the final stage of burnout-a sense of meaningless existence. The aim of this study was to assess the dynamic of burnout among neuroanesthesiologists and intensive care physicians. Methods. Two identical sets of tests were used to determine: burnout, depression, anxiety in our study. To determine the dynamics of these three phenomenon, the tests were repeated after three months in the same group of physicians. Data collection included demographic factors, Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) for Medical Personnel, Purpose in life test (Crumbaugh & Maholick), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS), State-adopted Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), assessment of depression-HADS, the questionnaire "Burn-out" Boyko VV. Results: Study included 20 neuroanesthesiologists and intensive care physicians who fully completed tests in both study phases. According study phase 1 (Study 1): MBI scale 20 % of participants had high scores in all three subscales of burnout. In study phase 2 (Study-2): according to the scale 40 % of participants had high scores in all three subscales of burnout. High rates in some of three sub-scales of burnout in Study-1: 70% of participants , had high rates in some of three sub-scales of burnout in Study-2: 95%. Depression was detected in Study-1 in 10% of doctors and in Study-2 in 30% of physicians. Conclusion: Data from our study indicate a significant prevalence of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, reduction of professional achievements and a high degree of suicidal risks. These data suggest that individual work with neuroanesthesiologists and intensive care physicians, aimed to identify burnout is needed. Burnout prevention measures like psychological support in the form of psychocorrection sessions should be suggested to anesthesiologists and intensive care physicians. The assistance should be specific, targeted to help both the high risk group of physicians and the patient dependent on him.
