OBJECTIVE

To study professional burnout and distress symptoms in anesthesiologists and intensive care specialists during COVID-19 pandemic period.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study involved 43 anesthesiologists and intensive care specialists of the Arkhangelsk region (mean age 28.0±1.2 years) and was conducted in October 2020 (during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic). We used the following research methods: questionnaire, Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) adapted by N.E. Vodopyanova, depression scale, perceived stress scale, WHO well-being index.

RESULTS

Every second specialist noted significant severity and tension in work, and ¹/₃ of doctors almost daily experienced anxiety during their professional duties. High level of burnout was diagnosed in more than half of the subjects including high level of depersonalization in 60.5% and reduction of professional achievements in ¹/₃ of respondents. Signs of stress and depression were diagnosed in more than 50% of specialists. Low index of well-being characterized by poor health, lack of a sense of vigor and interest in life was found in 41.9% of doctors. Male doctors were more likely to have a decreased mood and emotional state, dissatisfaction with various aspects of life, low efficiency in performing professional tasks, as well as higher level of professional burnout and low performance. Anesthesiologists and intensive care specialists treating patients with COVID-19 were more likely to report lower performance and efficiency in performing professional tasks, poor health and health complaints. These physicians cope worse with emerging stress, have a low assessment of their competence and productivity at work, higher depression.

CONCLUSION

During the COVID-19 pandemic, about 50% of anesthesiologists and intensive care specialists have signs of distress and professional burnout accompanied by emotional exhaustion, signs of depression, poor health and negative own professional assessment. These data should be taken into account when organizing the prevention and correction of negative emotional states in physicians.