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The COVID-19 pandemic also presents high mental health challenges for medical staff. The present study highlights how the COVID-19 pandemic has stressed Italian medical staff and how dehumanization of patients and colleagues has been associated with distress, alienation, and moral injury. The results show that the processes involved in humanizing care in medicine strengthen the patient-centered relationship but may have been affected by the impact of the pandemic. It is necessary to generate more indepth research on the relationship between dehumanization, humanization, and medical staff well-being. Regarding humanization of care in medicine, the results suggest that training needs to be both implemented to enable medical staff to learn how to properly manage relationships and communication with patients and colleagues and conducted by mental health professionals.

Burnout among physicians is a syndrome of emotional exhaustion, de-personalization, and reduced sense of personal accomplishment that can negatively affect personal relationships, physician well-being, and patient outcomes. Although burnout rates of up to 50% to 60% among orthopedic surgeons have been reported, no studies have evaluated burnout among orthopedic generalists and subspecialists. The primary goal of this study was to examine the prevalence of burnout among orthopedic disciplines. We conducted a multicenter study from March 2019 through December 2019 involving 149 orthopedists. An abbreviated Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey was used to measure burnout. Demographic information, personal characteristics, professional characteristics, family life and spousal support, and depression were also assessed. The mean rate of burnout among all respondents was 62%, whereas 16.77% screened positive for depression. Subspecialties with the highest rates of burnout were oncology (100%), sports medicine (68%), and trauma (63%). Similarly, trauma (50.00%), oncology (40.00%), and general orthopedics (20.00%) had the highest positive depression screening rates. In contrast, shoulder and elbow (50%), pediatric (52%), and foot and ankle (54%) specialists had the lowest rates of burnout, whereas shoulder and elbow (0.00%), spine (0.00%), and sports medicine (6.50%) specialists had the lowest rates of positive depression screening. Older age, higher debt load, and oncology subspecialty were associated with increased burnout risk. This study sought to determine burnout rates within each orthopedic discipline, with a secondary aim of disclosing contributing factors. Trauma and oncology had the highest rates of burnout and positive depression screening. Because this study represents a small orthopedic cohort, larger studies are needed to appropriately manage burnout in the future.

INTRODUCTION: The influence of burnout, academic engagement, and their interaction in dropout intention among medical students should be further studied. Current research shows its consequences are relevant, however, there is little understanding on burnout and academic engagement moderation in dropout intention. The current study tested a model that relates the effects of coping strategies, social support satisfaction, general distress on academic engagement, burnout, and dropout intention, on medical students. METHODS: Through an online survey a non-probabilistic sample of one Medical Faculty’s 1st- and 2nd-year students was recruited. Cross-sectional data were collected using psychometric instruments (Maslach Burnout Inventory – Student Survey, Social Support Satisfaction Scale for College Students, Brief COPE Scale for College Students, University Student Engagement Inventory, and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale), sociodemographic and academic variables, and analyzed using structural equation modeling. RESULTS: 532 students (76% response rate) enrolled in the study. Latent variables structural model presented a satisfactory fit to the data and confirmed the expected negative path between burnout and dropout intention (βDI<-SB=0.430; p<.001) and the latent moderation burnout x engagement (βDI<-SB*SE=-0.218; p<.001). CONCLUSION: Academic engagement attenuates the impact of burnout on dropout intention, working as a protective factor. Social support satisfaction and adaptive coping are associated with increased levels of academic engagement, and general distress and maladaptive coping are associated with burnout. Medical Schools should develop interventions to prevent dropout intention, tackle students’ stress and academic challenges, and develop their academic engagement levels.

Previous research has found higher rates of burnout among mental health professionals (MHPs) working in correctional settings and among those treating sex offenders, but it is not clear whether the setting or the client type is associated with greater burnout. Burnout has been linked with decreased empathy among healthcare providers, but this relationship has not been explored in MHPs. The present study explored differences in burnout and empathy among 219 MHPs working in correctional or community settings and among those primarily treating sex offenders versus other types of clients in the United States. Those working in correctional settings had higher levels of burnout than those working in community settings, but no differences in burnout were found for those treating sex offenders versus other types of clients, regardless of setting. No differences in empathy were found across the four groups, but self-reported empathy was inversely associated with levels of burnout. This research suggests that correctional settings may be more likely to result in burnout as compared to working with offender populations more generally. Implications for training professionals who desire to work in correctional settings are discussed. Interventions for preventing and reducing burnout are also discussed.

IMPORTANCE: The perspectives of gay, lesbian, bisexual (sexual minority [SM]) students about their medical school learning environment and how they relate to burnout is poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: To understand SM medical students’ perceptions of the medical school learning environment and how this is associated with reported burnout. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This cross-sectional study included medical students graduating from Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)–accredited allopathic US medical schools in 2016 and 2017 and responding to the AAMC Graduation Questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted from June 2021 to March 2022. EXPOSURES: Sexual orientation, based on self-identification, and categorized as bisexual, gay or lesbian, or heterosexual or straight. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Primary outcomes included burnout as measured by Oldenburg Burnout Inventory for Medical Students (OLBI-MS; two 24-point scales [range, 0-48], with higher scores indicating greater burnout) and student perceptions of the medical school learning environment (0-5–point scales for emotional climate [range, 0-20] and student-faculty interactions [range, 0-15], with higher scores indicating more positive perceptions). Logistic regression was used to model the association between burnout, SM status, and learning environment while controlling for demographic characteristics. RESULTS: A total of 25 757 respondents (12 527 [48.6%] women; 5347 [20.8%] Asian; 2255 [8.8%] underrepresented in medicine; 15 651 [60.8%] White; 10 726 [41.6%] aged ≤26 years) were included in the analysis: 568 (2.2%) self-identified as bisexual, 854 (3.3%) as gay or lesbian, and 24 335 (94.5%) as heterosexual or straight. Both bisexual students and gay or lesbian students reported less favorable perceptions of their learning environments than heterosexual students (mean [SD] emotional climate score, bisexual students: 8.56 [3.29]; gay or lesbian students: 9.22 [3.33]; heterosexual or straight students: 9.71 [3.20]; P < .001; mean [SD] faculty-student interaction score, bisexual students: 13.46 [3.69]; gay or lesbian students: 14.07 [3.45]; heterosexual or straight students: 14.32 [3.37]; P < .001). Bisexual and gay or lesbian students were more likely to be in the top quartile for burnout scores (bisexual: odds ratio [OR], 1.71; 95% CI, 1.42-2.07; P < .001; gay or lesbian: OR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.31-1.79; P < .001). This association was attenuated when accounting for student perceptions of the learning environment (bisexual: OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.11-1.67; P < .001; gay or lesbian: OR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.19-1.68; P < .001), with poorer perceptions of the medical school learning environment associated with higher burnout symptoms. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this cross-sectional study, SM students had less favorable perceptions of the medical school learning environment compared with heterosexual students. Results suggest the medical school environment may be associated with higher rates of burnout in SM students. Future research should explore interventions to improve the learning environment for SM students.

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective was to assess presence of community-based pharmacist practitioner burnout and workplace stress through administration of validated tools. METHODS: Pharmacists licensed in Ohio received an invitation to participate in the anonymous online assessment via Qualtrics™ using emails available via the State Board of Pharmacy listserv. The survey assessed emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment using a validated tool, the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). The Areas of Worklife Survey (AWS) was used to assess stressors as they relate to burnout and job stress. This study was approved by The Ohio State University Institutional Review Board. RESULTS: There were 1,425 complete responses. Based on the study sample, 67.2% of community-based pharmacists are experiencing burnout. When asked to self-identify workplace stressors, respondents primarily described the Workload, Control, and Reward dimensions of the AWS. The most commonly reported coping mechanisms were self-care strategies (28.4%), mindfulness (17.6%), and personal time/time off (15.3%). Respondents suggested that organizations address staffing (50.2%) and development of a culture of well-being (17.2%) to promote well-being. CONCLUSION: This study allowed insight into workplace stressors for community-based pharmacists and strategies organizations can employ to improve their well-being. Future studies are needed to assess the efficacy of these interventions.

Recent research has explored computational tools to manage workplace stress via personal sensing, a measurement paradigm in which behavioral data streams are collected from technologies including smartphones, wearables, and personal computers. As these tools develop, they invite inquiry into how they can be appropriately implemented towards improving workers' well-being. In this study, we explored this proposition through formative interviews followed by a design provocation centered around measuring burnout in a U.S. resident physician program. Residents and their supervising attending physicians were presented with medium-fidelity mockups of a dashboard providing behavioral data on residents' sleep, activity and time working; self-reported data on residents' levels of burnout; and a free text box where residents could further contextualize their well-being. Our findings uncover tensions around how best to measure workplace well-being, who within a workplace is accountable for worker stress, and how the introduction of such tools remakes the boundaries of appropriate information flows between worker and workplace. We conclude by charting future work confronting these tensions, to ensure personal sensing is leveraged to truly improve worker well-being.

BACKGROUND: Recently, there has been increasing evidence that reducing burnout in healthcare providers requires significant organizational efforts that include the integration of leadership strategies. METHODS: Focus groups were conducted across four health systems within the University of Colorado Department of Medicine in four affinity groups (administrative staff, medical trainees, research faculty, and clinical faculty). Authentic leadership theory was used for analysis to advance the understanding of the role of leadership style upon participants’ work experiences and preferences, and to identify opportunities for translation of site-specific results to other academic medical settings. RESULTS: Study participants from each affinity group believed their clinical leaders lacked objectivity with decision-making (lacking “balancing processing”), which contributed to their overall feeling of powerlessness. The experience of increasing work demands was salient throughout all twelve focus groups, and participants identified leadership that interacted in a more open and self-disclosing manner (“relational transparency”) as alleviating at least some of this burden. Strong preference discernable alignment between their leaders’ decision-making and their internal moral compass of values (demonstrating “internalized moral perspective”) was described, as was clinical leaders demonstrating “self-awareness” (having a self-reflective process that informs the leader’s decision-making). Comparing affinity group experiences within each authentic leadership theory construct identified the relevance of contextual factors, such as work setting and roles, upon employees’ perceptions and expectations of their leaders. CONCLUSIONS: Use of authentic leadership theory advanced the understanding of the association between leadership traits and experiences of burnout amongst a large group of academic clinicians, researchers, trainees, and administrative staff. Leadership styles that promoted relationship transparency, openness, and support were preferred and fostering these traits may help address the demands in academic medicine, including symptoms of burnout.

BACKGROUND: In March of 2020 the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 virus as a global pandemic. This has had vast effects on the healthcare systems around the world leaving workers feeling dejected and burnt out. This study seeks to describe the source and severity of burnout among respiratory therapists in central Ohio during the pandemic. METHODS: Researchers developed an electronic survey based on a review of literature. Once IRB approval was obtained, the survey was sent to central Ohio RT department managers, who were then asked to disseminate the survey to their staff. Participants provided information about their demographics, frequency and causes of burnout, levels of pre/post-pandemic burnout, which resources were offered by their institution and which resources were utilized by staff. Burnout being defined as an occupational stress related phenomenon, and is manifested by three dimensions, emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a reduced sense of personal accomplishment. RESULTS: Of the 102 responses, 58 responses were found to be complete. It was found that 81% of therapists believed that their burnout had increased since the onset of the pandemic and 53.4% were experiencing burnout often. The most common effects of burnout (Figure 1) were fatigue (82.8%), anxiety (69%), and personal health worries (60.3%). The main sources/causes of burnout were inadequate staffing (81%), increased patient acuity (79.3%) and poor patient outcomes (74.1%). When asked what resources were offered by institutions participants responses included: financial support/COVID leave (75.9%), educational sessions (44.8%) and staff feedback sessions (44.8%). Despite this there were much lower percentages of individuals who actually utilized these resources (Figure 2). CONCLUSIONS: An overwhelming majority of participants reported an increase in the frequency of RT burnout since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, a majority of participants reported an increase in the severity of the burnout they were experiencing. While many hospitals have tried to adapt and offer different resources to help manage burnout, not every resource is being fully or equally utilized by RTs. RT departments should explore solutions to manage sources of burnout that are manageable and within their ability to change.

Burnout is an impactful occupational health phenomenon to which doctors and nurses have been more exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The objectives of this study were to measure the dimensions of burnout—emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and personal accomplishment—in a hospital healthcare population after the second COVID-19 wave and to study their association with sociodemographic variables and previous COVID-19 infection. We invited 112 healthcare professionals (doctors and nurses) who attended the occupational health department of a tertiary hospital in March–July 2021. Emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and personal accomplishment were measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Linear-regression analyses were conducted to explore relationships between burnout dimensions and sociodemographic variables. Differences between groups according to previous COVID-19 infection were verified using the t-test and when appropriate the Mann–Whitney test (for continuous variables), the chi-square test and when appropriate the Fisher exact test (for categorical variables). We surveyed 106 subjects (95% response rate). High emotional exhaustion and depersonalization were reported by 33.0 and 18.4% of participants, respectively; 21.4% reported low personal accomplishment. Job tenure was associated with depersonalization and personal accomplishment. For each 1-year increase in job tenure, depersonalization decreases 0.14 (95% CI [−0.23, −0.04]) and personal accomplishment increases 0.16 (95% CI [0.06, 0.25]). Gender was associated with emotional exhaustion (being male increases emotional exhaustion 5.62-fold [95% CI: 1.33; 9.92]). The prevalence of high emotional exhaustion, high depersonalization and low personal accomplishment after the second COVID-19 wave was relevant and should not be overlooked. Our findings suggest that job tenure may play a protective role in healthcare workers’ burnout.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has strained hospitals and healthcare workers engaged in combating the virus with limited knowledge and resources. Intensive care unit (ICU) nurses are among the healthcare workers most affected by the pandemic and are at risk for developing burnout syndrome. OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to explore burnout symptoms prevalence among ICU nurses and to identify the individual, organizational, and contextual risk, and protective factors of burnout in ICU nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A scoping review was conducted by searching PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Only papers with empirical data and referred to ICU nurses were included. A total of 350 initial results were yielded, and 40 full texts were screened. Twelve papers constituted the final sample in the analysis. RESULTS: High levels of symptoms of burnout (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment) were registered among ICU nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Increased workload, lack of equipment, social stigma, and fear of contagion emerged as key risk factors. Social support from leaders and colleagues, professional recognition, use of personal protective tools, and witnessing patients’ successful recovery emerged as major protective factors. CONCLUSIONS: The results may inform the development of timely actions to counter burnout in ICU nurses during this COVID-19 pandemic and in a post-COVID-19 scenario.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Physician burnout is well-described in the literature. We analyze the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on burnout in trauma and acute care surgeons (TACS). RECENT FINDINGS: Along with other healthcare workers and trainees, TACS faced unprecedented clinical, personal, and professional challenges in treating a novel pathogen and were uniquely affected due to their skillset as surgeons, intensivists, and leaders. The pandemic and its consequences have increased burnout and are suspected to have worsened PTSD and moral injury among TACS. The healthcare system is just beginning to grapple with these problems. SUMMARY: COVID-19 significantly added to the pre-existing burden of burnout among TACS. We offer prevention and mitigation strategies. Furthermore, to build upon the work done by individuals and organizations, we urge that national institutions address burnout from a regulatory standpoint.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare professionals experience stressors in the workplace, putting them at elevated risk for burnout. The cardiac catheterization lab is a dynamic environment with high-acuity patients; however, little has been published investigating burnout syndrome among healthcare workers. The aim of the study was to identify the prevalence, demographic, and workload factors, which contribute to burnout syndrome among this population. METHODS: This is a multicenter cross-sectional study assessing burnout with the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) among registered nurses and registered cardiac invasive specialists working in the catheterization/electrophysiology lab and cardiac observation unit at four hospital centers in the metro Detroit area. RESULTS: Of the 48 participants, 69% (n = 33) were female. The overall prevalence of burnout syndrome was 33% (n = 16). Significantly more males experienced burnout than females (P < 0.05). Of the participants experiencing burnout, a greater proportion worked in the catheterization lab compared to the cardiac observation unit (93.8% vs. 6.3%). Burned-out participants worked on average more day shifts, ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) call shifts, and extended day shifts per month compared to those not experiencing burnout. The rate of burnout was significantly higher for individuals reporting increased stress during the pandemic (69% vs. 18%, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Registered nurses and registered cardiac invasive specialists working in the cardiac catheterization or electrophysiology lab experience elevated levels of burnout. Greater attention should be placed in identifying and optimizing workplace variables which contribute to burnout among this population.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of burnout among the midwifery workforce and the association between fixed personal and practice characteristics and modifiable organizational factors, specifically practice environment, to burnout among midwives in the United States. DATA SOURCE: Primary data collection was conducted via an online survey of the complete national roster of certified nurse-midwives and certified midwives over 3 weeks in April 2017. STUDY DESIGN: The study was a cross-sectional observational survey consisting of 95 items about personal and practice characteristics, respondents' practice environments, and professional burnout. DATA COLLECTION METHODS: The inclusion criterion was actively practicing midwifery in the United States. Data were analyzed with bivariate analyses to determine the association between personal and practice characteristics and burnout. A hierarchal multilinear regression evaluated the interrelationship between personal and practice characteristics, practice environment, and burnout. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Of the almost one third (30.9%) of certified nurse-midwives and certified midwives who responded to the survey, 40.6% met criteria for burnout. Weak negative correlations existed between burnout and indicators of career longevity: age (r(2256) = −0.09, p < 0.01), years as a midwife (r(2267) = −0.07, p = 0.01), and years with employer (r(2271) = −0.05, p = 0.02). There were significant relationships between burnout score and patient workload indicators: patients per day in outpatient setting (F(5,2292) = 13.995, p < 0.01), birth volume (F(3,1864) = 8.35, p < 0.01), and patient acuity (F(2,2295) = 20.21, p < 0.01). When the practice environment was entered into the model with personal and practice characteristics, the explained variance increased from 6.4% to 26.5% (F(20,1478) = 27.98, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggested that a key driver of burnout among US midwives was the practice environment, specifically practice leadership and participation and support for the midwifery model of care. Structural and personal characteristics contributed less to burnout score than the practice environment, implying that prevention of burnout may be achieved through organizational support and does not require structural changes to the provision of perinatal health.

INTRODUCTION: Burnout among resident physicians has been an area of concern that predates the COVID-19 pandemic. With the significant turmoil during the pandemic, this study examined resident physicians’ burnout, depression, anxiety, and stress as well as the benefits of engaging in activities related to  wellness, mindfulness, or mental wellbeing.

METHODS:The authors conducted a cross-sectional survey of 298 residents from 13 residency programs sponsored by the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, in October and November 2021. Authors used a 31-item questionnaire to measure levels of burnout, depression, anxiety, and stress. A mixed method approach was used to collect, analyze, and interpret the data. Descriptive statistics, One-way ANOVA/Kruskal-Wallis tests, adjusted odds ratios (aOR), and immersion-crystallization methods were used to analyze the data.

RESULTS:There was a 52% response rate, with 65.8% (n=102) of the respondents reporting manifestations of burnout. Those who reported at least one manifestation of burnout experienced a higher level of emotional exhaustion (aOR=6.73; 95% CI, 2.66-16.99; P<.01), depression (aOR=1.21; 95% CI, 1.04-1.41; P=.01), anxiety (aOR=1.14; 95% CI, 1.00-1.30; P=.04), and stress (aOR=1.36; 95% CI, 1.13-1.64; P<.01). Some wellness activities respondents engaged in included regular physical activities, meditation and yoga, support from family and friends, religious activities, time away from work, and counseling sessions.

CONCLUSIONS:The findings suggest the COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose a significant and worsening prevalence of burnout and other negative mental health effects on residents. Appropriate wellness and mental health support initiatives are needed to help resident physicians thrive in the health care environment.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the prevalence of burnout among radiology trainees in the United States, and to study the relationships between burnout and professional fulfillment (PF), intent-to-leave (ITL), sleep-related impairment and self-compassion by gender. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted via an anonymous electronic survey sent to 11 large academic medical centers (Physician Wellness Academic Consortium) between January 2017 and September 2018. The survey included the Professional Fulfillment Index (PFI) and an abbreviated form of the PROMIS Sleep-related impairment (SRI) scale. Two-sample t-tests and chi-square exact tests were used for analysis (p < 0.05). RESULTS: Two hundred forty-seven radiology residents responded to the survey. Out of these, 36.2% reported burnout, 37.4% endorsed PF, 64.8% reported sleep-related impairment, 7.6% expressed ITL. There were no significant differences between genders. Burnout was associated with reduced PF, increased sleep-impairment (p < 0.001 for both) and increased ITL (p = 0.02). Lower PF, peer support, perceived appreciation for and meaningfulness in work, alignment of organizational and personal values, self-compassion, and higher sleep impairment were associated with burnout (p < 0.001 for all). Burnout was associated with perceptions of less support from department leaders (p = 0.003), control over schedules (p = 0.001) and helpfulness of electronic health record systems (p = 0.01). ITL was associated with reduced PF, perceived work appreciation, and leadership support (p = 0.03, p = 0.04, and p = 0.007, respectively). DISCUSSION: Burnout is prevalent among radiology residents. Many demonstrate sleep-impairment and reduced professional fulfillment, with a lesser fraction desiring to leave their institution. Key factors to burnout included peer and organizational support, electronic health record systems helpfulness, and personal factors like self-compassion and work appreciation.

PURPOSE: To examine the prevalence of burnout, professional fulfillment, sleep impairment, and self-compassion within an academic medical center pharmacy department across varying job titles and practice settings. METHODS: In fall 2019, pharmacy staff completed a REDCap-based survey that consisted of a validated instrument relating to burnout, professional fulfilment, sleep-related impairment, and self-compassion. Burnout was measured by both single-item and extended 10-item questions on the survey. Survey outcomes from each domain were compared between pharmacists and pharmacy technicians/interns, as well as among practice settings (inpatient, ambulatory care, and infrastructure). RESULTS: A total of 593 surveys were completed by pharmacy personnel, representing a preliminary response rate of 71.8% (593/826). A total of 505 survey responses were analyzed (235 [46.5%] for pharmacists and 270 [53.5%] for pharmacy technicians/interns). Inpatient pharmacists reported the highest level of burnout (50.7%), followed by ambulatory care pharmacists (29.3%) and those working in infrastructure (24.3%). Pharmacy technicians working in infrastructure reported the highest level of burnout (36.4%), followed by inpatient (30.8%) and ambulatory care (28.3%) pharmacy technicians. There was no association between job type or location and burnout according to both single-item and 10-item burnout measures. A higher rate of burnout, sleep impairment, and decreased self-compassion and a lower rate of professional fulfillment were observed for inpatient pharmacists compared to pharmacists in ambulatory care or infrastructure. Except for higher rates of reported professional fulfillment, a similar trend was observed for pharmacy technicians. CONCLUSION: Burnout was reported across the pharmacy team regardless of practice site.

[This is an excerpt.] The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has led to significant burnout in all healthcare professionals. Burnout can be defined as a state of mental and emotional weariness, characterized by feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion, depersonalization, and a lack of accomplishment on a personal level.1 It is anticipated that the burnout amongst Canadian radiologists has increased from the 72% that experienced emotional exhaustion in the 2017 national survey. Exacerbation of preexisting systemic issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic, increased domestic responsibilities, fluctuating imaging volumes, increasingly complex patients, and emerging pressures including Radiology’s environmental responsibility and integration of artificial intelligence, are contributing to increasing burnout. [To read more, click View Resource.]

OBJECTIVE: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, burnout among healthcare workers has significantly increased. This study evaluated rates of burnout in neuropsychologists one year into the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD: A survey invitation was sent across five neuropsychology-related listservs in April 2021. Burnout was assessed with the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI; Kristensen, T. S., Borritz, M., Villadsen, E., & Christensen, K. B. (2005). The Copenhagen Burnout Inventory: A new tool for the assessment of burnout. Work & Stress, 19 (3), 192–207) and differences in Personal, Work, and Client burnout scores were evaluated across patient population and work setting. RESULTS: 57.3% and 51.5% of respondents (N = 130) endorsed moderate-to-high levels of personal and work-related burnout, respectively. In the Personal domain, respondents working with pediatric patients had higher mean scores and a higher proportion of respondents endorsed moderate-to-high levels of burnout. CONCLUSION: More than half of the survey respondents endorsed elevated levels of personal and work-related burnout. This is concerning as burnout is associated with personal challenges and diminished patient care. Potential organizational interventions are discussed.

This narrative review aims to summarize initiatives developed during the COVID-19 pandemic to support healthcare workers' emotional well-being within the context of a preexisting framework of occupational mental health guidelines. This occupational mental health framework integrates principles from multiple disciplines to optimize prevention and management of mental health issues among employees. We conducted an online search on Medline/PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase for studies that reported on design or execution of medical institution-based interventions, aiming to support healthcare worker mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Inclusion criteria was intentionally broad in order to incorporate as many types of interventions at varying stages of development or evaluation. We included 31 studies in our review that reported on newly designed psychological support interventions for healthcare workers (HCW) during the COVID-19 pandemic. We found that most programs commonly supported HCW mental health through offering one or more of the following initiatives: expanded basic need resources/services, additional workplace training programs that bolstered professional preparedness while also indirectly boosting HCW emotional health, and/or expanded psychological support programs, such as peer support programs, psychoeducational or counseling services. Most programs, however, did not consider methods to ensure program longevity or sustainability. The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the acuity of HCW mental health issues and is likely to leave long lasting mental health strains among HCW. This pandemic is a critical point in time to catalyze much needed progress in reducing stigma and expanding HCW mental health care access.

This resource is found in our Actionable Strategies for Health Organizations: Ensuring Physical & Mental Health (Stress/Trauma & Resilience).