Burnout in Intensive Care Units - a Consideration of the Possible Prevalence and Frequency of New Risk Factors: a Descriptive Correlational Multicentre Study

Overview

Journal BMC Anesthesiol

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Anesthesiology

Date 2013 Nov 1

PMID 24172172

Citations 45

Authors

Carla Teixeira

Orquidea Ribeiro

Antonio Manuel Fonseca

Ana Sofia Carvalho

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: The provision of Intensive Care (IC) can lead to a health care provider's physical, psychological and emotional exhaustion, which may develop into burnout. We notice the absence of specific studies regarding this syndrome in Portuguese Intensive Care Units (ICUs). Our main objective is to study the incidence and risk factors of burnout in Portuguese ICUs.

Methods: A self-fulfilment questionnaire containing 3 items: (i) socio-demographic data of the study population; (ii) experiences in the workplace; (iii) Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) - was applied to evaluate the influence of distinct factors on the prevalence of burnout among physicians and nurses working in ICUs.

Results: Three hundred professionals (82 physicians and 218 nurses) from ten ICUs were included in the study, out of a total of 445 who were eligible. There was a high rate of burnout among professionals working in Portuguese ICUs, with 31% having a high level of burnout. However, when burnout levels among nurses and physicians were compared, no significant difference was found. Using multivariate analysis, we identified gender as being a risk factor, where female status increases the risk of burnout. In addition, higher levels of burnout were associated with conflicts and ethical decision making regarding withdrawing treatments. Having a temporary work contract was also identified as a risk factor. Conversely, working for another service of the same health care institution acts as a protective factor.

Conclusions: A high rate of burnout was identified among professionals working in Portuguese ICUs. This study highlights some new risk factors for burnout (ethical decision making, temporary work contracts), and also protective ones (maintaining activity in other settings outside the ICU) that were not previously reported. Preventive and interventive programmes to avoid and reduce burnout syndrome are of paramount importance in the future organization of ICUs and should take the above results into account.

Citing Articles

Burnout among intensivists and critical care fellows in South Korea: Current status and associated factors.

Lee S, Kim W, Kim D, Suh G, Kim J, Kim H PLoS One. 2025; 20(2):e0318495.

PMID: 39903755 PMC: 11793759. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0318495.

The Role of Personality in Explaining Burnout, Work Addiction, and Stress-Related Growth in Prehospital Emergency Personnel.

Butoi M, Vancu G, Marcu R, Hermenean A, Puticiu M, Rotaru L Healthcare (Basel). 2025; 13(2).

PMID: 39857220 PMC: 11764910. DOI: 10.3390/healthcare13020193.

Unveiling diabetes onset: Optimized XGBoost with Bayesian optimization for enhanced prediction.

Khurshid M, Manzoor S, Sadiq T, Hussain L, Khan M, Dutta A PLoS One. 2025; 20(1):e0310218.

PMID: 39854291 PMC: 11760023. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0310218.

Occupational Risk Factors for Burnout Syndrome Among Healthcare Professionals: A Global Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Amiri S, Mahmood N, Mustafa H, Javaid S, Khan M Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2025; 21(12.

PMID: 39767426 PMC: 11675210. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21121583.

Prevalence of burnout syndrome among anesthesiologists, anesthesia technicians, and intensive care unit nurses in Palestinian hospitals: a cross-sectional study.

Hasan F, Daraghmeh T, Jaber M, Shawahna R BMC Psychiatry. 2024; 24(1):740.

PMID: 39468477 PMC: 11520787. DOI: 10.1186/s12888-024-06196-y.

References

Ramirez A, Graham J, Richards M, Cull A, Gregory W, Leaning M . Burnout and psychiatric disorder among cancer clinicians. Br J Cancer. 1995; 71(6):1263-9. PMC: 2033827. DOI: 10.1038/bjc.1995.244. View

Baldwin P, Dodd M, Wrate R . Young doctors' health--II. Health and health behaviour. Soc Sci Med. 1997; 45(1):41-4. DOI: 10.1016/s0277-9536(96)00307-3. View

Maslach C, Schaufeli W, Leiter M . Job burnout. Annu Rev Psychol. 2001; 52:397-422. DOI: 10.1146/annurev.psych.52.1.397. View

Onyett S . Revisiting job satisfaction and burnout in community mental health teams. J Ment Health. 2011; 20(2):198-209. DOI: 10.3109/09638237.2011.556170. View

Michalsen A, Hillert A . [Burn-out in anesthesia and intensive care medicine. Part 1. Clarification and critical evaluation of the term]. Anaesthesist. 2010; 60(1):23-30. DOI: 10.1007/s00101-009-1659-0. View

Chen S, McMurray A . "Burnout" in intensive care nurses. J Nurs Res. 2002; 9(5):152-64. DOI: 10.1097/01.jnr.0000347573.45553.e0. View

Virtanen M, Kivimaki M, Joensuu M, Virtanen P, Elovainio M, Vahtera J . Temporary employment and health: a review. Int J Epidemiol. 2005; 34(3):610-22. DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyi024. View

Poncet M, Toullic P, Papazian L, Kentish-Barnes N, Timsit J, Pochard F . Burnout syndrome in critical care nursing staff. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2006; 175(7):698-704. DOI: 10.1164/rccm.200606-806OC. View

Raggio B, Malacarne P . Burnout in intensive care unit. Minerva Anestesiol. 2007; 73(4):195-200. View

10.

Van Aken H, Mellin-Olsen J, Pelosi P . Intensive care medicine: a multidisciplinary approach!. Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2011; 28(5):313-5. DOI: 10.1097/EJA.0b013e328345a441. View

11.

Virtanen M, Kivimaki M, Elovainio M, Vahtera J, Ferrie J . From insecure to secure employment: changes in work, health, health related behaviours, and sickness absence. Occup Environ Med. 2003; 60(12):948-53. PMC: 1740437. DOI: 10.1136/oem.60.12.948. View

12.

Weisman C, Teitelbaum M . Physician gender and the physician-patient relationship: recent evidence and relevant questions. Soc Sci Med. 1985; 20(11):1119-27. DOI: 10.1016/0277-9536(85)90189-3. View

13.

Embriaco N, Azoulay E, Barrau K, Kentish N, Pochard F, Loundou A . High level of burnout in intensivists: prevalence and associated factors. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2007; 175(7):686-92. DOI: 10.1164/rccm.200608-1184OC. View

14.

Grassi L, Magnani K . Psychiatric morbidity and burnout in the medical profession: an Italian study of general practitioners and hospital physicians. Psychother Psychosom. 2000; 69(6):329-34. DOI: 10.1159/000012416. View

15.

Aiken L, Clarke S, Sloane D, Sochalski J, Silber J . Hospital nurse staffing and patient mortality, nurse burnout, and job dissatisfaction. JAMA. 2002; 288(16):1987-93. DOI: 10.1001/jama.288.16.1987. View

16.

Curtis J, Vincent J . Ethics and end-of-life care for adults in the intensive care unit. Lancet. 2010; 376(9749):1347-53. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(10)60143-2. View

17.

Donchin Y, Seagull F . The hostile environment of the intensive care unit. Curr Opin Crit Care. 2002; 8(4):316-20. DOI: 10.1097/00075198-200208000-00008. View

18.

Quenot J, Rigaud J, Prin S, Barbar S, Pavon A, Hamet M . Suffering among carers working in critical care can be reduced by an intensive communication strategy on end-of-life practices. Intensive Care Med. 2011; 38(1):55-61. PMC: 3678991. DOI: 10.1007/s00134-011-2413-z. View

19.

Kluger M, Townend K, Laidlaw T . Job satisfaction, stress and burnout in Australian specialist anaesthetists. Anaesthesia. 2003; 58(4):339-45. DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2044.2003.03085.x. View

20.

Coomber S, Todd C, Park G, Baxter P, Firth-Cozens J, SHORE S . Stress in UK intensive care unit doctors. Br J Anaesth. 2002; 89(6):873-81. DOI: 10.1093/bja/aef273. View