Track: Occupational Safety and Health (OSH)

Abstract

Introduction: during COVID19, the Algerian health system was put under great strain. Despite its vulnerability, it adapted to the particular circumstances of this pandemic thanks to a profound modification of the organization of work. HCWs whose job is already known to cause anxiety are found exposed to the risk of professional burnout. Purpose: Assessment of the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic on the mental health of HCWs. Material and Method : cross-sectional study implemented in a COVID19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Burnout score is measured by the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI). Its statistical association is analyzed with professional, organizational factors and the resources made available. Two-sided tests were used, a significance threshold p ≤0.05;  descriptive univariate and bivariate analysis (Pearson's Chi2 test) to test the association between the Burnout score and its dimensions with the other variables. Results: population of 78 HCWs; sex ratio = 0.30; psychometric properties of CBI (ɑ Cronbach = 0.88); Burnout: 94.3% including 17% in serious form. Doctors 16.7%, nurses 14.3%. Burnout is associated with no professional or organizational factors (only with the notion of being affected by COVID19 (OR: 19; 95% CI [1.78 – 203.2] p 0.01). Satisfaction is high in relationships with colleagues (77%); with superiors (64%), low with resources made available (14%). Intention to quit job found in 23% cases. Conclusion: the burnout of HCWs in this ICU is not related to organizational factors, they are already exhausted by the pandemic: poor prognosis, high mortality rate, lack of radical solution to the problem.