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. 2025 Jul 23;23(2):e20251442.
doi: 10.47626/1679-4435-2025-1442. eCollection 2025 Apr-Jun.

Increase in burnout among physicians and associated factors in the period before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Renilda Martins Prestes  1 , Luciano Ferreira Drager  1   2 , Silvia Gonçalves Conway  3 , Almir Ribeiro Tavares Junior  3 , Márcia Assis  3 , Andrea Frota Bacelar Rego  3 , Claudia Roberta de Castro Moreno  1   4
Affiliations

Increase in burnout among physicians and associated factors in the period before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Renilda Martins Prestes et al. Rev Bras Med Trab. .

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Introduction: Studies have demonstrated that individual and organizational factors contribute to burnout in health professionals. The COVID-19 pandemic increased demand for health care services, leading to work overload among health professionals, particularly physicians.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of burnout and identify possible individual, organizational, and sleep-related factors associated with burnout among physicians, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on a subsample of 2,639 physicians extracted from a secondary database with health professionals from all regions of Brazil, between May and June 2020. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed. Burnout was assessed via the emotional exhaustion dimension.

Results: Data for 2,374 (90.3%) physicians were analyzed. The prevalence of burnout before the pandemic was 18.9%, increasing to 31.3% during the pandemic. The factors predicting burnout during the pandemic included age 25-39 years (odds ratio = 2.76; 95%CI 1.94-3.92), female sex (odds ratio = 1.67; 95%CI 1.34-2.08), working on the front line (odds ratio = 1.62; 95%CI 1.30-2.02), poor sleep quality and quantity (odds ratio = 6.39; 95%CI 4.99-8.17), and not working from home (odds ratio = 1.31; 95%CI 1.08-1.60).

Conclusions: Compared to the work routine before the pandemic, there was a marked increase in the prevalence of burnout among physicians during the pandemic. Independent factors associated with this increase were young adult age, female sex, frontline work, poor sleep quality and quantity, and traditional on-site work.

Introdução: Estudos demonstram que fatores individuais e organizacionais contribuem para o desenvolvimento de burnout em profissionais de saúde. A pandemia de covid-19 acentuou a demanda de atendimento nos serviços de saúde, gerando maior sobrecarga de trabalho, especialmente entre os médicos.

Objetivos: Estimar a prevalência de burnout e identificar possíveis fatores individuais, organizacionais e distúrbios do sono associados ao burnout em médicos, antes e durante a pandemia de covid-19.

Métodos: Estudo transversal realizado com uma subamostra de 2.639 médicos extraída de um banco de dados secundário com profissionais de saúde de todas as regiões do Brasil, entre maio e junho de 2020. Foram realizadas análises descritivas e testes de estatística inferencial. O burnout foi estimado a partir da análise do componente de esgotamento emocional.

Resultados: Foram analisados dados de 2.374 (90,3%) médicos. A prevalência de burnout antes da pandemia foi de 18,9%, aumentando para 31,3% durante a pandemia. Os fatores preditores de burnout na pandemia foram faixa etária de 25 a 39 anos (odds ratio = 2,76; IC95% 1,94-3,92), sexo feminino (odds ratio = 1,67; IC95% 1,34-2,08), atuação na linha de frente (odds ratio = 1,62; IC95% 1,30-2,02), sono de menor quantidade e pior qualidade (odds ratio = 6,39; IC95% 4,99-8,17) e não trabalhar em home office (odds ratio = 1,31; IC95% 1,08-1,60).

Conclusões: Em comparação ao período anterior à pandemia, observou-se um aumento expressivo na prevalência de burnout entre médicos durante a pandemia. Os fatores independentes associados a esse aumento foram faixa etária jovem adulto, sexo feminino, trabalho na linha de frente, sono insuficiente e de má qualidade e trabalho presencial.

Keywords: COVID-19.; Occupational health; burnout; professional; public health.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest: None

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Sample size and participant selection.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Perceived presence of burnout among the study’s physician population during the COVID-19 pandemic, Brazil, 2023.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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