Psychosocial factors associated with Burnout and Traumatic Stress among Healthcare Professionals during COVID-19 Pandemic.

Abstract

It is essential to assess the psychosocial associated with burnout and post-traumatic stress among health care professional during COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan. In the current study the relationship of type D personality, coping strategies, resilience and psychological distress with burnout and traumatic stress was measured among healthcare professionals. The study also explored the most significant predictors of burnout and traumatic stress after controlling for demographic variables. In this cross-sectional study, survey methods was used to collected data from 141 healthcare professional in Pakistan. Psychosocial factors such as Type D personality traits were measured with Distress Scale-14, psychological distress was evaluated with Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, coping styles were evaluated with Brief COPE Scale, and Brief Resilience Scale was used to access level of resilience. Moreover, burnout was assessed with Maslach Burnout Inventory (Abbreviated) and traumatic stress was measured with Trauma Screening Questionnaire. In the total sample 58.2 % of the participant were identified with Type D personality. Results also indicated that 60.3% participants reported Burnout while 51.8% of participants experienced post-traumatic stress. High scores on Type D personality trait i.e. Social-Inhibition and Negative-Affectivity, Anxiety and Depression showed higher levels of burnout and post-traumatic stress. Furthermore, marital status, social inhibition, avoidant coping, religious coping, and anxiety were identified as the significant predictors of burnout. Similarly, age, social-inhibition, negative- affectivity, and coping strategies were identified as significant predictors of traumatic stress among health care professional during pandemic. The study concluded that healthcare personnel are at a greater risk for burnout and traumatic stress as the pandemic proceeds which can have an adverse impact on their overall mental health. It is recommended that health care professional may be screened for psychological issues and appropriate counselling and therapeutic interventions may be provided to those who are at risk for psychological distress, burnout and traumatic stress during COVID-19 Pandemic.