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Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Burnout in Primary Care Physicians in Catalonia

Author

Listed:
  • Gemma Seda-Gombau

    (Unitat de Suport a la Recerca Metropolitana Nord, Institut Universitari d’Investigació en Atenció Primària Jordi Gol (IDIAP Jordi Gol), 08303 Mataró, Spain
    Departament d’Empresa, Facultat d’Economia i Empresa, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Spain
    Multidisciplinary Research Group on Health and Society (GREMSAS), (2017 SGR 917), 08007 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Juan José Montero-Alía

    (Unitat de Suport a la Recerca Metropolitana Nord, Institut Universitari d’Investigació en Atenció Primària Jordi Gol (IDIAP Jordi Gol), 08303 Mataró, Spain
    Multidisciplinary Research Group on Health and Society (GREMSAS), (2017 SGR 917), 08007 Barcelona, Spain
    Centre d’Atenció Primària Mataró-3 (Rocafonda-Palau), Gerència Àmbit Metropolitana Nord, Institut Català de la Salud, 08304 Mataró, Spain)

  • Eduard Moreno-Gabriel

    (Unitat de Suport a la Recerca Metropolitana Nord, Institut Universitari d’Investigació en Atenció Primària Jordi Gol (IDIAP Jordi Gol), 08303 Mataró, Spain
    Multidisciplinary Research Group on Health and Society (GREMSAS), (2017 SGR 917), 08007 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Pere Torán-Monserrat

    (Unitat de Suport a la Recerca Metropolitana Nord, Institut Universitari d’Investigació en Atenció Primària Jordi Gol (IDIAP Jordi Gol), 08303 Mataró, Spain
    Multidisciplinary Research Group on Health and Society (GREMSAS), (2017 SGR 917), 08007 Barcelona, Spain
    Department de Medicina, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Girona, 17004 Girona, Spain)

Abstract

Background: Recent demands to raise the clinical quality, improve the patient experience, and decrease costs have progressively increased burnout among primary care physicians. This overstretched situation has been greatly aggravated since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the study is to analyse the prevalence of burnout among primary care physicians and to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on burnout. Methods: This was a multicentre longitudinal descriptive study of occupational factors and burnout before and since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to assess the impact of the pandemic on burnout in primary care physicians, two paired groups of physicians were compared using Wilcoxon’s and McNemar’s tests. Results: In January 2019, 10% of primary care physicians scored high on all burnout domains. Seven months into the COVID-19 pandemic (October 2020), this percentage increased to 50%. Paired groups analysis showed unprecedented worsening due to the pandemic: emotional exhaustion, which already affected 55% of primary care physicians, jumped to 77%. Conclusions: Burnout is endemic among primary care physicians. It has been associated with lower patient satisfaction, reduced health outcomes, and increased costs. The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed burnout in primary care professionals to the edge.

Suggested Citation

  • Gemma Seda-Gombau & Juan José Montero-Alía & Eduard Moreno-Gabriel & Pere Torán-Monserrat, 2021. "Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Burnout in Primary Care Physicians in Catalonia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-12, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:17:p:9031-:d:623067
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lourdes Luceño-Moreno & Beatriz Talavera-Velasco & Yolanda García-Albuerne & Jesús Martín-García, 2020. "Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Levels of Resilience and Burnout in Spanish Health Personnel during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-29, July.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Mario J. Valladares-Garrido & Luis Eduardo Zapata-Castro & Cinthia Karina Picón-Reategui & Ana Paula Mesta-Pintado & Ronald Alberto Picón-Reategui & Mariana Huaman-Garcia & César Johan Pereira-Victori, 2022. "Association between Working Time and Burnout Syndrome in Peruvian Military during the Second Epidemic Wave of COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-14, October.
    3. Alessandra Gorini & Mattia Giuliani & Elena Fiabane & Alice Bonomi & Paola Gabanelli & Antonia Pierobon & Pasquale Moretta & Giovanna Pagliarulo & Simona Spaccavento & Gaetano Vaudo & Matteo Pirro & M, 2022. "Prevalence of Psychopathological Symptoms and Their Determinants in Four Healthcare Workers’ Categories during the Second Year of COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-11, October.

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