Determining Correlations Between Emergency Department Health Care Workers and their Associated Burnout and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Scores: A Pilot Study.

Abstract

Introduction: Health care workers experience settings that can contribute to burnout and post-traumatic stress disorder. Early identification of health care workers at risk for burnout/post-traumatic stress disorder may allow for quicker implementation of mitigation strategies despite limited research. This pilot study explores associations between burnout and post-traumatic stress disorder with demographic and occupational factors in health care workers.

Methods: This quantitative, cross-sectional study on burnout and post-traumatic stress disorder was conducted at a single-site urban academic emergency department from 2022 to 2023. Health care workers were split into provider versus non-provider for confidentiality. Burnout and post-traumatic stress disorder were operationalized using the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder checklist.

Results: In this cohort (n = 72), many identified as non-Hispanic white (54%) females (74%), and were non-providers (75%) who worked 32 to 40 hours/week (75%). Although not significant, non-providers reported higher disengagement (14.8% vs 0%, P = .19). Females had higher exhaustion (64.2% vs 57.9%, P = .63) while males had higher disengagement (15.8% vs 9.4%, P = .43). Participants <40 had higher disengagement and exhaustion (15.8% vs 5.9%, P = .27; 68.4% vs 55.9%, P = .27), while a previous depression diagnosis led to increased moderate-to-severe disengagement, exhaustion, and burnout (26.7% vs 6.9%, P = .05; 80.0% vs 56.9%, P = .14; and 53.3% vs 37.9%, P = .28, respectively).

Discussion: Though these results are not statistically significant, we demonstrate important associations that are clinically relevant. Non-providers under 40 showed higher disengagement, which may be related to competing responsibilities, while depression increased burnout severity across all domains. Importantly, future research with increased samples will allow relevant sub-group comparisons (ie, nurses vs other non-providers) and continued exploration of factors that influence elevated burnout in health care workers.