Psychological Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and burnout on Medical Oncology, Hemato-Oncology, and Radiation Oncology Professionals

Abstract

Objective: To determine the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and burnout on the staff of Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, and Hemato-Oncology at the Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre.

Method: The psychological impact of the pandemic on healthcare professionals was evaluated longitudinally (T1 and T2) using 4 self-administered questionnaires: The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL-5), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS). A sociodemographic questionnaire developed by the researchers was also used.

Results: 25.7% of professionals presented anxiety symptoms, 28.2% presented depressive symptoms and 5.13% exceeded the cut-off point for probable posttraumatic stress disorder. Additionally, 20.51% of the participants met the characteristic profile of burnout. The variables most correlated with burnout and anxious, depressive and posttraumatic symptoms were fear of virus contagion, living with a person with a chronic illness, and the professionals' perception of the evaluation of their work during the pandemic.

Conclusions: The staff in this study presented significant anxiety, depressive and posttraumatic symptoms related to the pandemic situation at T1, which persisted at T2. Furthermore, a significant percentage of professionals presented burnout.