Burnout, depression and associated risk factors among frontline healthcare workers in Bahrain during COVID-19

Abstract EN

Background: Caring for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic has put frontline healthcare workers in Bahrain at risk of burnout and depression.

Aims: To determine the prevalence of burnout, depression, and associated risk factors among frontline healthcare workers in Bahrain during the pandemic.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2020 to April 2021.

The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-HSS) and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) were administered online to 431 healthcare workers in COVID-19 treatment and quarantine facilities.

Results: Almost all participants reported some degree of burnout across all three subscales: emotional exhaustion (98.8%), depersonalization (94%) and lack of personal achievement (47.9%).

Moderate to severe levels of burnout were observed across the domains of emotional exhaustion (47.2%) and depersonalization (39.5%).

Over half of the participants reported depressive symptoms (56.8%) and a quarter recorded moderate to severe levels of depression (20.6%).

Statistically significant correlations were observed between burnout and depression.

Conclusion: Frontline healthcare workers in Bahrain reported moderate to severe levels of burnout and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Single female doctors aged 25 to 34 years, who worked with COVID-19 patients, were more likely to report burnout.

Age, nationality, profession, and work experience were the most significant determinants of burnout.

Those who reported burnout also reported feeling depressed.