Pakou Varvara, Andrianopoulos Ioannis, Gouva Mary, Dragioti Elena, Tatsis Fotios, Papathanakos Georgios, Ntantana Asimenia, Antoniadou Eleni, Fligou Fotini, Papageorgiou Eirini, Chantziara Vasiliki, Koutra Evaggelia, Mousafiri Ourania, Asoniti Sofia, Sidiras Georgios, Giamarelou Angeliki, Nakou Maria, Petsas Andreas, Tsirogianni Athanasia, Nianiopoulos Konstantinos, Papandreou Eleni, Panagiotakopoulou Aikaterini, Koulouras Vasilios
Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital of Ioannina, Ioannina, GRC.
Research Laboratory Psychology of Patients, Families & Health Professionals, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, GRC.
Cureus. 2025 May 21;17(5):e84555. doi: 10.7759/cureus.84555. eCollection 2025 May.
Objective This study aimed to assess the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on burnout, mental health, and spirituality/religiosity among ICU professionals. Methods A multicenter, national, cross-sectional study was conducted in 31 adult ICUs across Greece. A compilation of three questionnaires assessing responders' level of burnout [Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI)], responders' spirituality and religious attitudes [Spiritual and Religious Attitudes Questionnaire (SpREUK)], and finally, responders' mental health [Symptom Checklist 90-R (SCL-90)] was distributed to ICU professionals in 2022. Responses were compared to those of a similar cohort of ICU professionals who had responded before the pandemic (2015). Results Overall, 1,013 ICU professionals participated (440 from the pre-pandemic period and 573 from the pandemic period). The prevalence of burnout increased during the pandemic (35.95 ±16.11%) compared to the pre-pandemic (30.62 ±15.39%, p<0.001) period. In particular, ICU professionals during the pandemic period scored worse across all three burnout categories: emotional exhaustion (25.80 ±10.93 vs. 22.27 ±10.96, p<0.001), depersonalization (10.40 ±6.51 vs. 8.68 ±6.25, p<0.001), and personal accomplishment (31.36 ±8.63 vs. 35.06 ±7.50, p<0.001) compared to the pre-pandemic period. In addition, during the pandemic period, participants reported experiencing more mental health symptoms and had a higher Global Severity Index (0.56 ±0.44 vs. 0.913 ±0.73, p<0.001), indicating a decline in mental health. Finally, participants during the pandemic era scored worse in the spirituality scale (overall score: 36.20 ±12.54 vs. 39.11 ±12.34, p<0.001), a significant mechanism associated with resilience and burnout risk factor. Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with increased burnout, worsened mental health, and reduced spirituality among ICU professionals in Greece. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted national and international policies and interventions to support the well-being and resilience of frontline healthcare workers.
目的 本研究旨在评估2019年冠状病毒病(COVID-19)大流行对重症监护室(ICU)专业人员职业倦怠、心理健康以及精神/宗教信仰的影响。方法 在希腊全国31个成人ICU开展了一项多中心横断面研究。2022年,向ICU专业人员发放了三份问卷,分别用于评估受访者的职业倦怠水平[马氏职业倦怠量表(MBI)]、精神和宗教态度[精神与宗教态度问卷(SpREUK)],以及心理健康状况[症状自评量表90修订版(SCL-90)]。将这些回答与大流行之前(2015年)做出回应的类似ICU专业人员队列的回答进行比较。结果 总体而言,1013名ICU专业人员参与了研究(440名来自大流行前时期,573名来自大流行时期)。与大流行前时期(30.62±15.39%,p<0.001)相比,大流行期间职业倦怠的患病率有所上升(35.95±16.11%)。具体而言,大流行期间的ICU专业人员在所有三个职业倦怠类别中的得分都更低:情感耗竭(25.80±10.93对22.27±10.96,p<0.001)、去人格化(10.40±6.51对8.68±6.25,p<0.001)以及个人成就感(31.36±8.63对35.06±7.50,p<0.001)。此外,在大流行期间,参与者报告出现了更多的心理健康症状,且总体严重程度指数更高(0.56±0.44对0.913±0.73,p<0.001),这表明心理健康有所下降。最后,大流行时期的参与者在精神量表上的得分更低(总分:36.20±12.54对39.11±12.34,p<0.001),精神是与恢复力和职业倦怠风险因素相关的一个重要机制。结论 COVID-19大流行与希腊ICU专业人员职业倦怠增加、心理健康恶化以及精神信仰下降有关。这些发现强调了迫切需要制定有针对性的国家和国际政策及干预措施,以支持一线医护人员的福祉和恢复力。