Prevalence and Factors Associated With Burnout of Frontline Healthcare Workers in Fighting Against the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence From China.

Objectives: The sudden outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) plunged healthcare workers (HCWs) into warfare. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of burnout and the factors associated with it among frontline HCWs fighting COVID-19.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among frontline HCWs fighting against the COVID-19 in Wuhan, Harbin, and Shenzhen during the period from February 18 to March 4. Finally, HCWs were recruited using cluster sampling, 1,163 HCWs were included in the final analysis. Burnout was measured using a 22-item Maslach Burnout Inventory scale (MBI scale).

Results: Of the participants, 48.6% suffered from burnout, and 21.8% showed a high degree of burnout. Doctors ( = 3.954, = 0.011) and nurses ( = 3.067, = 0.042) showed higher emotional exhaustion (EE) than administrators. Participants who worked continuously for more than 8 h a day ( = 3.392, = 0.000), those who were unable to eat three regular daily meals ( = 2.225, = 0.008), whose daily water intake was no more than 800 ml ( = 3.007, = 0.000), who slept for no more than 6 h ( = 1.609, = 0.036), and who were infected or had colleagues who were infected with COVID-19 ( = 4.182, = 0.000) experienced much higher levels of EE, while those who could adhere to infection control procedures ( = -5.992, = 0.000), who were satisfied with their hospital's infection control measures( = -3.709, = 0.001), and who could receive sufficient psychological crisis intervention ( = -1.588, = 0.039) reported lower levels of EE.

Conclusion: The study reveals that burnout is prevalent among frontline HCWs and that the known factors associated with burnout, such as workload, and the factors directly associated with COVID-19, such as having insufficient protection, can affect burnout symptoms in frontline HCWs. Synergized and comprehensive interventions should be targeted at reducing its occurrence among frontline HCWs fighting COVID-19.