Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric healthcare burnout in acute care: a longitudinal study

Sarah R Martin; Theodore Heyming; Tricia Morphew; Lois Sayrs; Michelle A Fortier; Terence Sanger; Zeev N Kain

doi:10.1038/s41390-023-02674-3

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric healthcare burnout in acute care: a longitudinal study

Pediatr Res. 2023 Nov;94(5):1771-1778. doi: 10.1038/s41390-023-02674-3. Epub 2023 Jun 10.

Authors

Sarah R Martin^{1

2

3}, Theodore Heyming^{3

4}, Tricia Morphew^{5

6}, Lois Sayrs^{3

7}, Michelle A Fortier^{1

2

3

8}, Terence Sanger³, Zeev N Kain^{9

10

11}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Care, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
² Center on Stress & Health, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
³ Children's Hospital of Orange County, Orange, CA, USA.
⁴ Emergency Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
⁵ Morphew Consulting, LLC, Bothell, WA, USA.
⁶ Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Orange County, Orange, CA, USA.
⁷ University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
⁸ Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
⁹ Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Care, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA. zkain@uci.edu.
¹⁰ Center on Stress & Health, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA. zkain@uci.edu.
¹¹ Children's Hospital of Orange County, Orange, CA, USA. zkain@uci.edu.

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 pandemic introduced significant challenges that may have exacerbated healthcare worker (HCW) burnout. To date, assessments of burnout during COVID-19 pandemic have been cross-sectional, limiting our understanding of changes in burnout. This longitudinal study assessed change across time in pediatric HCW burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic and whether demographic and psychological factors were associated with changes in burnout.

Methods: This longitudinal study included 162 physicians, physician assistants, nurses, and medical technicians within the emergency department (ED), intensive care, perioperative, and inter-hospital transport services in a children's hospital. HCW demographics, anxiety and personality traits were reported via validated measures. HCWs completed the Maslach Burnout Inventory in April 2020 and March 2021. Data were analyzed using generalized estimating equations.

Results: The percentage of HCWs reporting high emotional exhaustion and/or depersonalization burnout increased significantly across time (18.5% to 28.4%, P = 0.010). Factors associated with increased emotional exhaustion included working in the ED (P = 0.011) or perioperative department (P < 0.001), being a nurse or medical technician (P's < 0.001), not having children (P < 0.001), and low conscientiousness (P < 0.001).

Conclusions: Pediatric HCW burnout significantly increased over 11-months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results suggest that certain demographic and psychological factors may represent potential area to target for intervention for future pandemics.

Impact: This longitudinal study revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on pediatric healthcare worker burnout. The percentage of healthcare workers reporting high levels of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization burnout increased significantly over 11-months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results suggest that certain demographic and psychological factors may represent potential targets for future interventions.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

Burnout, Psychological
COVID-19*
Child
Cross-Sectional Studies
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Pandemics*
Surveys and Questionnaires

Grants and funding

K23 HD105042/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States