Burnout and sources of stress among healthcare risk managers and patient safety personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic: A pilot study (19 April 2021)

Summary

This study investigated burnout and sources of stress related to the Covid-19 pandemic among a group of healthcare risk managers and patient safety practitioners. An online survey asked the open question, "Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, what work or non-work-related issues have been causing you the most stress?" The results showed that burnout and pandemic-related stress were very common in the healthcare risk management and patient safety workforce. Stressors included:

• the impacts of social distancing.
• changing duties and workload.
• real and potential impacts of the virus (for example, fear of infection for self or others).
• financial concerns (personal and organisational).
• untrustworthy and constantly changing guidance.
• feeling abused by persons in power.
• positive comments about the experience of working during the pandemic.