| Abstract |
Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to numerous consequences, both
direct and indirect, which have profoundly impacted various aspects of society. An
important indirect effect that has emerged is the significant burden on health workers’
mental health. Extensive research has shown an increased incidence of adverse health
outcomes, notably burnout, particularly during the pandemic. This phenomenon is even
more pronounced among health professionals working on the front lines against the
pandemic.
Purpose: This master's thesis attempted to investigate the current levels of stress,
depression, and burnout among doctors and nurses who worked in the front lines during
the pandemic, investigating changes from the first wave until today. In addition, the
following Sub-objectives are defined: 1) The investigation of the various changes in the
levels of these outcomes, which are derived from a comparison of the first wave against
today 2) the investigation of the demographic and professional profile characteristics
related to these changes between the first and second covid wave.
Methodology: The present cross-sectional study was derived from a questionnaire
survey study that was conducted at GNI Venizelio-Pananeio in the period of October
2022 up to, including, December 2022. In this study, we used a comparison group, data
for which had been collected during the first wave of the pandemic by partners of the
research group. The study population includes the health professionals of GNI
Venizeliou-Pananeios General Hospital who worked in the unit during the pandemic.
The departments and units from where the sample was taken are: ICU COVID 19 and
ICU-MAF. The final number of samples per wave were 100 people. The tools for data
collection include a questionnaire package that was anonymous and self-administered.
The questionnaire consists of questions for the socio-demographic data of the sample
and job characteristics (eg. gender, age, specialty, etc.), combined with the weighted
questionnaires (Greek versions) of Maslach's burnout, Maslach Burnout Inventory
(MBI) and anxiety-depression (DASS-21).
Results: The distribution of the scales during the first wave and again at the end of the
pandemic did not differ statistically significantly (Pvalue=1.00). The participants were
mostly females (80%), had a mean age of 41.53 years (SD=10.79), 46% were married
and 38% were single, with a mean number of family members of 2, 8 (S.D.=1.57). 56%
were nurses and 16% doctors and had an average number of chronic diseases of 0.69
(S.D.=0.97). All mental outcomes changed statistically significantly from the first wave of the pandemic to its end (Pvalue<0.001). More specifically, the stress in the first wave
was at very high levels (mean=17.92, S.D.=0.7) and decreased towards the end of the
pandemic reaching medium levels (mean=11.36, S.D.=0.21). Instead, anxiety increased
between the two periods. Specifically, from 6.66 (medium levels) to 12.07 (very high
levels). Depression followed the same trend, from 2.86 (normal levels) to 11.36 (high
levels). Looking at the burnout markers, emotional exhaustion started from low levels
(mean=9.92, S.D.=5.6) and reached medium to high levels at the end of the pandemic
(mean=24, 24 (S.D.=5.63). Personal achievements were at high levels from the first
wave (mean=4.87, S.D.=3.6) and decreased slightly but remained high at the end
(mean=12.24, S.D.=5.03). Depersonalization was stronger at high levels in the first
wave (mean=35.33, S.D.=4.69). It decreased at the end of the pandemic but remained
at a high level according to the MBI scale classification (mean=11.54, S.D.=7.85).
Conclusions: The study that we conducted shed light on how the pandemic has affected
the levels of burnout, anxiety and depression of healthcare professionals. These effects
could potentially escalate over time and become more pronounced even after the end of
the COVID-19 pandemic.
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