Psychological factors of emotional burnout of emergency medical workers in COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND: The article presents the results of a study of the psychological characteristics of the level of emotional burnout of emergency medical workers in the COVID-19 pandemic. The study investigates the level of emotional burnout in relation to personality traits, and the level of tolerance of uncertainty in a group of emergency medical workers. METHODS: In order to the aim a sample of 94 medical workers of the Emergency Medical Service, aged 21 to 65 years, was recruited (30 doctors, 35 paramedics, 29 junior medical staff). The authors used 5 different methods to assess for personality traits (Big Five Questionnaire), the emotional burnout (Boyko method), professional stress and coping behaviors in stressful situations. The results of the study were processed by such methods of statistical data analysis as descriptive statistics, regression analysis, one-way analysis of variance and correlation. Jamovi program of processing and analysis of statistical data of was used. RESULTS: The leading symptoms of burnout have been found to be experiencing traumatic circumstances, inadequate selective emotional response, expanding the scope of emotional preservation, and reducing professional responsibilities; in junior health professionals, the predominant and leading symptom of burnout is a decrease in professional responsibilities in the current phase of resistance. The development of emotional burnout in ambulance workers directly depends on the level of occupational stress, especially the phase of stress and symptoms of anxiety and depression. CONCLUSIONS: The study found several factors influencing the development of burnout (intolerance of uncertainty, rigidity, excessive control, suppression of emotional responses and unregulated workloads) reflecting in all employees regardless of their position.