Liu Haiying, Li Xin, Zhao Lina, Zhang Yue, Huang Dongxue, Li Tian, Xie Keliang, Shen Yuehao
Department of Critical Care Medicine, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.
Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
BMJ Open. 2025 Aug 22;15(8):e099192. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-099192.
In the post-pandemic era, few studies have examined burnout among professionals in intensive care units (ICUs) in China. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of burnout and associated mental health problems, including depression and stress, among ICU physicians and nurses following the pandemic, and to explore the factors contributing to burnout.
A cross-sectional design was used in this study.
This study was conducted in ICUs across hospitals in three distinct regions of China in 2023.
This study included 1488 ICU physicians and nurses, recruited through convenience sampling.
Primary outcomes of this study were to investigate the prevalence of burnout and its associated factors among ICU physicians and nurses, as measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey. As secondary outcomes, we aimed to explore mental health issues, including depression, assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire, and stress levels, measured by Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale.
A total of 1447 participants were included in the study. Among them, 676 (46.7%) were physicians and 771 (53.3%) were nurses. 333 (49.3%) physicians and 458 (59.4%) nurses were found to have overall high burnout. 162 (24.0%) physicians and 247 (32.0%) nurses reported experiencing major depression, while 603 (89.2%) physicians and 601 (78.0%) nurses reported high levels of perceived stress. ICU physicians who were married (OR=0.607, 95% CI=0.392 to 0.940) had a lower risk of burnout, while those maintaining a neutral attitude to work-life balance (OR=1.621, 95% CI=1.022 to 2.571) might experience high burnout. Female ICU nurses (OR=0.698, 95% CI=0.500 to 0.974) who actively participated in epidemic prevention (OR=0.547, 95% CI=0.344 to 0.868) exhibited a reduced likelihood of suffering burnout. Higher burnout risks in ICU nurses were associated with working in teaching hospitals (OR=1.672, 95% CI=1.113 to 2.510) and a longer length of ICU stay for patients (OR=1.789, 95% CI=1.173 to 2.730).
ICU physicians and nurses in China are encountering significant burnout and mental health challenges following the pandemic. Possible risk factors for burnout encompass various dimensions, including individual, occupational and organisational levels. There is an urgent need to implement effective interventions to mitigate burnout, promote mental health and enhance the overall well-being of these healthcare professionals.
在疫情后时代，很少有研究调查中国重症监护病房（ICU）专业人员的职业倦怠情况。本研究旨在调查疫情后ICU医生和护士职业倦怠的患病率以及相关的心理健康问题，包括抑郁和压力，并探讨导致职业倦怠的因素。
本研究采用横断面设计。
本研究于2023年在中国三个不同地区的医院ICU中进行。
本研究纳入了1488名ICU医生和护士，通过便利抽样招募。
本研究的主要结局是调查ICU医生和护士职业倦怠的患病率及其相关因素，采用马氏职业倦怠量表-人类服务调查进行测量。作为次要结局，我们旨在探讨心理健康问题，包括使用患者健康问卷评估的抑郁，以及用科恩感知压力量表测量的压力水平。
共有1447名参与者纳入研究。其中，676名（46.7%）为医生，771名（53.3%）为护士。发现333名（49.3%）医生和458名（59.4%）护士总体职业倦怠程度较高。162名（24.0%）医生和247名（32.0%）护士报告有重度抑郁，而603名（89.2%）医生和601名（78.0%）护士报告有高水平的感知压力。已婚的ICU医生（OR=0.607，95%CI=0.392至0.940）职业倦怠风险较低，而对工作与生活平衡持中立态度的医生（OR=1.621，95%CI=1.022至2.571）可能经历较高的职业倦怠。积极参与疫情防控的女性ICU护士（OR=0.698，95%CI=0.500至0.974）职业倦怠的可能性降低。ICU护士较高的职业倦怠风险与在教学医院工作（OR=1.672，95%CI=1.113至2.510）以及患者在ICU的住院时间较长（OR=1.789，95%CI=1.173至2.730）有关。
中国的ICU医生和护士在疫情后正面临严重的职业倦怠和心理健康挑战。职业倦怠的可能风险因素涵盖各个层面，包括个人、职业和组织层面。迫切需要实施有效的干预措施来减轻职业倦怠，促进心理健康，提高这些医护人员的整体幸福感。
