Prevalence of burnout among healthcare workers in six public referral hospitals in northeastern Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has placed considerable psychological stress on frontline healthcare workers (HCWs). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of burnout syndrome among HCWs facing the COVID-19 outbreak. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study conducted in six public intensive care units (ICUs) in the city of Fortaleza, Brazil. METHODS: An online survey was conducted among HCWs to measure the three dimensions of burnout. RESULTS: A total of 62 physicians (23.4%), 65 nurses (24.5%), 58 nurse technologists (21.9%) and 80 physiotherapists (30.2%) completed the questionnaire. Nearly half of the participants (48.6%) had high levels of emotional exhaustion, and almost one-third of them (29.4%) had high levels of depersonalization. Low levels of professional efficacy were observed in 18.1% of the sample. The independent determinants of depersonalization burnout were age < 33 years (odds ratio, OR 2.03; 95% confidence interval, CI 1.15-3.56; P = 0.01) and female gender (OR 0.33; 95% CI 0.18-0.62; P = 0.01). Increased workload was associated with both depersonalization (OR 2.37; 95% CI 2.02-5.50; P = 0.04) and emotional exhaustion (OR 1.89; 95% CI 1.04-3.58; P = 0.030). CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a great impact on the dimensions of depersonalization and emotional exhaustion. Consideration of these dimensions is important when designing future burnout prevention programs for frontline personnel.

Prevalence of burnout among healthcare workers in six public referral hospitals in northeastern Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has placed considerable psychological stress on frontline healthcare workers (HCWs). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of burnout syndrome among HCWs facing the COVID-19 outbreak. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study conducted in six public intensive care units (ICUs) in the city of Fortaleza, Brazil. METHODS: An online survey was conducted among HCWs to measure the three dimensions of burnout. RESULTS: A total of 62 physicians (23.4%), 65 nurses (24.5%), 58 nurse technologists (21.9%) and 80 physiotherapists (30.2%) completed the questionnaire. Nearly half of the participants (48.6%) had high levels of emotional exhaustion, and almost one-third of them (29.4%) had high levels of depersonalization. Low levels of professional efficacy were observed in 18.1% of the sample. The independent determinants of depersonalization burnout were age < 33 years (odds ratio, OR 2.03; 95% confidence interval, CI 1.15-3.56; P = 0.01) and female gender (OR 0.33; 95% CI 0.18-0.62; P = 0.01). Increased workload was associated with both depersonalization (OR 2.37; 95% CI 2.02-5.50; P = 0.04) and emotional exhaustion (OR 1.89; 95% CI 1.04-3.58; P = 0.030). CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a great impact on the dimensions of depersonalization and emotional exhaustion. Consideration of these dimensions is important when designing future burnout prevention programs for frontline personnel.

Efeitos da ofuroterapia no relaxamento e ganho de peso em recém-nascidos prematuros na unidade de cuidados neonatal / Ofuro bath effects on relaxation and weight gain of premature newborns in neonatal care units

Os métodos de banho humanizado são os mais indicados na assistência de recém-nascidos pré-termos (RNPT's) de baixo peso, por proporcionar a estes uma melhor resposta adaptativa ao ambiente extrauterino, contribuindo para melhora na organização dos sistemas comportamentais, motores e fisiológicos, assim como no desenvolvimento saudável dessa população, através do relaxamento decorrente da imersão do corpo em água morna, evitando assim o gasto energético. OBJETIVO: Investigar os efeitos da ofuroterapia no relaxamento e ganho de peso de RNPT's, clinicamente estáveis, admitidos em uma Unidade de Cuidados Intermediários Neonatais (UCIN). MÉTODO: Trata-se de um estudo quantitativo, de caráter descritivo e quase exploratório, com uma amostra de 10 recém-nascidos admitidos na UCIN Canguru, do Hospital Maternidade Almeida Castro, Mossoró/RN, Brasil. A população estudada, de baixo peso, foi submetida a 2 sessões semanais de aplicação do método, por 10 minutos em dias alternados. RESULTADOS: Não houve diferença significativa estatisticamente no ganho de peso (p=0,127). Nas variáveis hemodinâmicas, a população estudada apresentou aumento na frequência respiratória (FR) no dia 2 (p=0,028), e diminuição da temperatura corporal no dia 1 (p=0,014) e no dia 2 (p=0,005). Em relação a avaliação da dor, não houve diferenças significativas estatisticamente em ambos os dias. CONCLUSÃO: Apesar de ser observado o relaxamento proporcionado à população do estudo através da aplicação do método, não foram obtidos dados significativamente estatísticos que comprovem a relação entre o relaxamento proporcionado pela ofuroterapia e o ganho de peso dos RNPT's estudados no presente estudo.

Humanized bathing methods are the most indicated for the care of low weight premature newborns (PTNB), for providing them with a better adaptive response to the extra-uterine environment, contributing to the improvement of the organization of behavioral, motor and physiological systems, as well as to the healthy development of this population, through relaxation resulting from immersion of the body in warm water, thus avoiding energy expenditure. OBJECTIVE: Investigate the effects of ofuro bath on relaxation and weight gain of PTNB, clinically stable, admitted to a Neonatal Intermediate Care Unit (NICU). METHOD: This is a quantitative, descriptive and almost exploratory study, with a sample of 10 newborns admitted in NICU kangaroo of Almeida Castro Maternity, Mossoró/RN, Brazil. The studied population, of low weight, was submitted to 2 weekly sessions of application of the method, for 10 minutes on alternate days. RESULT: There was no statistically significant difference in weight gain (p=0,127). In the hemodynamic variables, the study population showed an increase in respiratory frequency on day 2 (p=0,028), and decrease in body temperature on day 1 (p=0,014) and on day 2 (p = 0.005). Regarding the evaluation of pain, there were no statistically significant differences in the two days. CONCLUSION: Despite being observed the relaxation provided to the study population by applying the method, no statistically significant data were obtained to prove the relationship between the relaxation provided by ofuro bath and the weight gain of the PTNB studied in the present study.

Effects of daily inspiratory muscle training on respiratory muscle strength and chest wall regional volumes in haemodialysis patients: a randomised clinical trial.

Purpose: Evaluating the effects of interdialytic daily inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on respiratory muscle strength, chest wall regional volumes, diaphragmatic mobility and thickness, pulmonary function, functional capacity, and quality of life (QoL) in haemodialysis (HD) patients.Method: A randomised, and double-blind clinical trial composed of 24 chronic kidney disease patients undergoing HD. Patients were allocated into the IMT group (n = 12) or sham group (n = 12) and performed daily IMT twice per day with a load of 50% inspiratory muscle strength for the IMT group and 5 cmH2O for the sham group during 8 weeks. Respiratory muscle strength, diaphragm thickness and mobility, chest wall regional volumes, functional capacity, and QoL were measured.Results: At the end of the study, an increase in inspiratory and expiratory muscle strength was observed for both groups, but no significant difference was found between them. Changed volume distribution was also observed in the IMT group, with significantly increased inspiratory capacity in the pulmonary compartment compared to the sham group.Conclusions: Daily interdialytic IMT promoted a change in chest wall regional volumes, with an increase in the inspiratory capacity of the pulmonary rib cage. Both groups had increased inspiratory and expiratory muscle strength with daily respiratory exercise.Trial registration: www.ClinicalTrials.gov; study number: NCT02599987; name of trial registry: IMT in Patients with End-stage Renal Disease.Implications for rehabilitationMuscular impairment in chronic kidney disease patients results from a series of common alterations, affecting respiratory muscles.Patients with chronic kidney disease have low values of diaphragmatic thickness.The daily inspiratory muscle training (IMT) or breathing exercise over a period of 8 weeks provided increased respiratory muscle strength.The daily inspiratory muscle training presented a change in tri-compartment distribution of lung volume compared to the sham group, with increased inspiratory capacity of the pulmonary rib cage.