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. 2019 Nov;20(4):363-369.
doi: 10.1177/1751143719860391. Epub 2019 Jul 11.

Burnout Syndrome in UK Intensive Care Unit staff: Data from all three Burnout Syndrome domains and across professional groups, genders and ages

Laura Vincent  1 , Peter G Brindley  2   3 , Julie Highfield  4 , Richard Innes  5 , Paul Greig  6   7 , Ganesh Suntharalingam  8
Affiliations

Burnout Syndrome in UK Intensive Care Unit staff: Data from all three Burnout Syndrome domains and across professional groups, genders and ages

Laura Vincent et al. J Intensive Care Soc. 2019 Nov.

Abstract

Introduction: This is the first comprehensive evaluation of Burnout Syndrome across the UK Intensive Care Unit workforce and in all three Burnout Syndrome domains: Emotional Exhaustion, Depersonalisation and lack of Personal Accomplishment.

Methods: A questionnaire was emailed to UK Intensive Care Society members, incorporating the 22-item Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey for medical personnel. Burnout Syndrome domain scores were stratified by 'risk'. Associations with gender, profession and age-group were explored.

Results: In total, 996 multi-disciplinary responses were analysed. For Emotional Exhaustion, females scored higher and nurses scored higher than doctors. For Depersonalisation, males and younger respondents scored higher.

Conclusion: Approximately one-third of Intensive Care Unit team-members are at 'high-risk' for Burnout Syndrome, though there are important differences according to domain, gender, age-group and profession. This data may encourage a more nuanced understanding of Burnout Syndrome and more personalised strategies for our heterogeneous workforce.

Keywords: Burnout Syndrome; Depersonalisation; Emotional Exhaustion; Intensive care; Maslach Burnout Inventory; Personal Accomplishment; multi-disciplinary; wellbeing; workplace stress.

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