Burnout in intensive care professionals: a pre and post pandemic analysis

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Exhaustion, cynicism or negative feelings related to work and reduced professional performance are the characteristics of Burnout syndrome, which has a high prevalence among health professionals, even more susceptible to professionals who have a more stressful work routine, such as in ICU. Discussion: Burnout among doctors is on the rise, and studies show that the risk and clinical features of the syndrome vary according to the specialty and conditions to which the professional is exposed, such as workload, emotional aspects of the patient and family, mortality rates, etc. Therefore, intensive care medicine is particularly highlighted in the presence of emotional and physical strain, a fact that was greatly aggravated at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Several distinct characteristics influence mental exhaustion, psychological imbalance and professional frustration related to intensive care doctors, including female professionals, with a higher prevalence. It was found that there are repercussions for both the professional's quality of life, such as emotional lability and susceptibility to other diseases, as well as impairment to medical care, a consequence of the professional's exhaustion.