The Nursing Department of EKPA conducted a study to assess the burnout and satisfaction of Health professionals, following the pandemic due to COVID-19.

In addition, the factors influencing the burnout and satisfaction of health professionals were also investigated. This study was recently published in the prestigious scientific journal “Nursing Reports”. The study was carried out by Assistant Professor Petros Galanis, Professor Dafni Kaitelidou, Assistant Professor Olga Siskos, Doctors Olympia Constantakopoulou, Irini Vrakas, Ioannis Moussoglou and Evangelia Meimetis and PhD candidate Aglaia Katsirouba (PE nurse, MSc).

The data was collected in June 2023, i.e. after the end of the pandemic due to COVID-19. The studied population included 1760 health professionals from all over Greece, who worked in health services during the pandemic, such as hospitals, health centers, etc.

The findings of the study

– The average age of health professionals was 41.1 years, while the average length of service in the clinical area was 16.2 years. 53.8% of health professionals were nurses. The majority of health professionals (83.3%) stated that they work in understaffed health services.

– 69.1% of health professionals showed a high level of burnout, 16.8% moderate level of burnout and 14.1% low level of burnout.

Yes, burnout was greater for nurses compared to other health professionals. More specifically, 91.1% of nurses stated that they are exhausted to a great extent, while the corresponding percentage for the rest of the health professionals was 79.9%.

– Regarding professional satisfaction, approximately half of the participants (50.7%) declared low levels of satisfaction, 36.1% medium levels of satisfaction and 13.1% high levels of satisfaction. Nurses were less satisfied than other health professionals, as 61% of nurses were somewhat satisfied with their profession, while the corresponding percentage for other health professionals was 38.8%.

– According to the study results, women, health professionals with a master’s/doctorate degree, nurses, shift workers, full-time workers, workers in understaffed health services, and private sector workers experienced higher levels of job satisfaction. burnout. Additionally, increasing years of clinical experience was associated with increased burnout.

– Regarding the factors affecting job satisfaction, it was found that nurses, health professionals with a master’s/doctorate degree, workers on a rotating schedule, workers in the public sector and workers in understaffed health services were less satisfied with their work . Additionally, increasing years of clinical experience was associated with decreased satisfaction.

Health workers leaving the health system

The end of the pandemic was accompanied by the departure of a large number of health professionals from the health services both in Greece and internationally due to the high burnout and low satisfaction they experienced during the pandemic.

In fact, the increased rate of retirement of health professionals continues even after the end of the pandemic, causing even more problems in the operation of health systems worldwide. The findings of the present study further reinforce the notion that working conditions for healthcare professionals during the pandemic were extremely difficult, leading to high burnout and low satisfaction. Understanding the factors that influence the burnout and satisfaction of health professionals is crucial to form the appropriate support framework for them both at the work and psychological level. Health professionals are the most defining parameter in a health system and it is not enough just to stay in their job, but to work under humane conditions and get satisfaction from their profession, scientists report. It is clear, they note, that appropriate measures must be taken to improve working conditions for health professionals in Greece. In this way, the burnout of health professionals could be reduced and their professional satisfaction increased, so as to reduce their departures from the health system in Greece and achieve the best functioning of health services.