ABSTRACT
Introduction. Workplace factors during COVID-19 pandemic impose significant risk to occupational health in health workers (HWs). This cross-sectional study analyzes associations of burnout with job demands/resources among HWs and compares findings between 12 South-East European (SEE) countries during the pandemic. Methods. The actual on-line survey was conducted during autumn 2020 by SEE Network on Workers' Health (SEENWH) with SEE Health Network. Job demands and burnout were measured by Hospital Experience Scale and Maslach Burnout Inventory. Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture and the English version of the Questionnaire sur les Ressources et Contraintes Professionnelles were used for job resources assessment. Total sample involved 4.621 HWs (78.4% females, aged 43.7±10.7 yrs, tenure 18.8±11.4 yrs) from SEE countries. Ethical issues of the study were approved by SEENWH. Results. Data showed significant differences in emotional exhaustion between SEE countries: Albania 21.7, Bosnia and Herzegovina 21.9, Bulgaria 23.8, Croatia 23.7, Israel 13, Moldova 22.9, Montenegro 22.4, RN Macedonia 24.1, Romania 18.2, Serbia 20.1, Turkey 20.4 (Welch F = 17.98, p<0.001). Cross-country differences were also registered in job demands/resources. Regression models, controlling for gender, age, tenure, working hours/week, night shifts, showed job demands (R2=.37, ΔR2=.35) and job resources (R2=.18, ΔR2=.16) as significant predictors of emotional exhaustion. Conclusion. There is an urgent need for implementation of country-specific preventive measures towards burnout prevention and improvement of work ability in HWs during pandemic.