BACKGROUND

Burnout is a global problem, and resilience may support the well-being of healthcare workers (HCWs) in stressful conditions.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to evaluate the association between burnout and resilience among HCWs in intensive care units (ICU) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

DESIGN AND SETTING

A cross-sectional study was conducted in the ICU of four public hospitals in Fortaleza, Brazil.

METHODS

A face-to-face survey was conducted among HCWs in the ICUs of four public hospitals in Fortaleza between January and August 2023. The participants completed questionnaires on burnout and resilience.

RESULTS

A total of 194 professionals, including physichians (24%), nurses (29%), nursing technicians (25%), and physiotherapists (22%), completed questionnaires on burnout and resilience through face-toface interviews. Most professionals (62%) presented with overall burnout symptoms, and an inverse association was observed between resilience and burnout. However, 16 of the 44 (34%) HCWs with the highest resilience scores experienced burnout. Furthermore, younger age and higher workload were associated with a higher prevalence of burnout.

CONCLUSION

Determinants of burnout were identified among ICU staff members during the last year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Resilience helped HCWs cope with burnout. However, some of the most resilient HCWs presented with high levels of burnout. Efforts are necessary to implement resilience-building tools, yet public health policies to improve ICU organizational issues are more important and urgent for promoting sustainable well-being among professionals, particularly during challenges such as pandemics. Introducing resilience-building tools and implementing public health policies are necessary to improve ICU management and promote sustainable well-being among healthcare workers in high workload settings.