Measuring Occupational Fatigue among Higher and Middle Management at a Specialized Cancer Center during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

PURPOSE: This study aims to measure the occupational fatigue level and describe the sources and consequences of occupational fatigue among middle and higher management at an international specialized cancer center during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A mixed-method design was used in this study. A convenience sampling technique was utilized to select the participants from King Hussein Cancer Center, Amman, Jordan. The data was collected through a self-administered questionnaire. This questionnaire included both quantitative and qualitative sections. We utilized Fatigue Risk Assessment and Management in High-Risk Environments (FRAME)-26 items scale for the quantitative section. Two main questions were included in the survey to identify the sources and consequences of occupational fatigue. RESULTS: The results show that the average mean of occupational fatigue was 2.95/5 (SD=0.70). The level of changes in fatigue levels after the COVID-19 pandemic increased by 0.87/3 (SD=1.45). The sources of occupational fatigue could be categorized into five themes: workload, work environment, staffing, psychological, and physical sources. There are four themes categorizing occupational fatigue: social, economic, health, and daily activity and lifestyle. CONCLUSION: This study affords valuable insight into the level, source, and consequences of occupational fatigue among middle and higher management at an international specialized cancer hospital in developing countries. The results indicate that the occupational fatigue level was moderate, and the fatigue level was negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The effect of shift work on burnout and occupational fatigue among clinical faculty members during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: Shift work of clinical faculty members in the COVID-19 pandemic may cause burnout and occupational fatigue and as a result, may reduce the quality of student education and disrupt the treatment of patients, so this study was conducted to evaluate this case. Materials and methods: The statistical population of this cross-sectional research included all clinical faculty members of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences in southwestern Iran, who experienced a shift work system (night shift from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.) during the COVID-19 pandemic, and finally, 71 of them participated in it. The sampling method was also available. Two inventories were used to collect data, namely the Maslach Burnout Inventory [MBI-HSS (MP)] and the Swedish Occupational Fatigue Inventory (SOFI-20). Results: The self-reported burnout of faculty members was high (mean ± SD = 98.18 ± 17.18), which was graded into the range of emotional exhaustion (38.01 ± 10.2), range of personal accomplishment, (33.75 ± 6.75), and the range of depersonalization (26.42 ± 3.5), respectively. Perceived occupational fatigue of faculty members was also high (M ± SD = 82.25 ± 34.79), which included the dimensions of lack of motivation (18.69 ± 8.65), drowsiness (17.43 ± 8.7), lack of energy (16.33 ± 7.67), physical discomfort (15.65 ± 8.62), and physical stress (13.51 ± 6.9), respectively. In terms of demographic characteristics, occupational fatigue was significantly more common among women. Discussion and conclusion: The self-reported burnout and occupational fatigue of clinical faculty members due to shift work were reported to be high in this study. Although our knowledge of burnout has advanced in recent years, many gaps in our knowledge still remain. In order for clinical faculty members to properly fulfill their mission to treat patients, educate students, and promote public health, it is necessary to provide all the necessary conditions for their effective activity. Some interventions, such as improving organizational strategies and providing technical solutions, incentives, and occupational facilities, can help reduce or eliminate these problems.

The relationship between coronavirus 19 fear and occupational fatigue, burnout and recovery levels in healthcare professionals in Turkey.

Studies conducted after the SARS outbreak (2003) reported that healthcare professionals experienced high levels of psychological distress. These psychological problems need to be addressed during and after the epidemic. This study was planned to be carried out in healthcare professionals to determine the relationship between the fear of COVID-19 and burnout. Data were collected online from 538 healthcare professionals working in different cities and units using the Personal Information Form consisting of questions about demographic characteristics, the COVID-19 Phobia Scale and the Occupational Fatigue Exhaustion Recovery Scale. It was determined that the fear of COVID-19 high and burnout levels of the participants were above the scale. There was a significant difference between the burnout level of individuals, the level of fear of COVID-19, the individual's profession and the unit they work in. It is important to implement psychosocial interventions in order to take the necessary precautions to ensure that healthcare workers are less affected by the negative effects of fear and burnout during the epidemic process. The role of professional teams, including psychiatric nurses, is of great importance in determining and resolving the negative effects of the pandemic on healthcare professionals.