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Public Health Workforce Burnout in the COVID-19 Response in the U.S

Author

Listed:
  • Kahler W. Stone

    (Department of Health and Human Performance, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN 37132, USA)

  • Kristina W. Kintziger

    (Department of Public Health, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA)

  • Meredith A. Jagger

    (Independent Researcher, Austin, TX 78704, USA)

  • Jennifer A. Horney

    (Epidemiology Program, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19713, USA)

Abstract

While the health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on frontline health care workers have been well described, the effects of the COVID-19 response on the U.S. public health workforce, which has been impacted by the prolonged public health response to the pandemic, has not been adequately characterized. A cross-sectional survey of public health professionals was conducted to assess mental and physical health, risk and protective factors for burnout, and short- and long-term career decisions during the pandemic response. The survey was completed online using the Qualtrics survey platform. Descriptive statistics and prevalence ratios (95% confidence intervals) were calculated. Among responses received from 23 August and 11 September 2020, 66.2% of public health workers reported burnout. Those with more work experience (1–4 vs. <1 years: prevalence ratio (PR) = 1.90, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.08−3.36; 5–9 vs. <1 years: PR = 1.89, CI = 1.07−3.34) or working in academic settings (vs. practice: PR = 1.31, CI = 1.08–1.58) were most likely to report burnout. As of September 2020, 23.6% fewer respondents planned to remain in the U.S. public health workforce for three or more years compared to their retrospectively reported January 2020 plans. A large-scale public health emergency response places unsustainable burdens on an already underfunded and understaffed public health workforce. Pandemic-related burnout threatens the U.S. public health workforce’s future when many challenges related to the ongoing COVID-19 response remain unaddressed.

Suggested Citation

  • Kahler W. Stone & Kristina W. Kintziger & Meredith A. Jagger & Jennifer A. Horney, 2021. "Public Health Workforce Burnout in the COVID-19 Response in the U.S," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-11, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:8:p:4369-:d:539690
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Megan Scudellari, 2020. "How the pandemic might play out in 2021 and beyond," Nature, Nature, vol. 584(7819), pages 22-25, August.
    2. Ellery, J. & Allegrante, J.P. & Moon, R.W. & Auld, M.E. & Gebbie, K., 2002. "Training the public health education workforce [3] (multiple letters)," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 92(7), pages 1053-1054.
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    Cited by:

    1. Tony Lee & Benjamin J. Becerra & Monideepa B. Becerra, 2023. "“ Seems Like There Is No Stopping Point at All Whatsoever ”: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Public Health Workforce Perception on COVID-19 Pandemic Management and Future Needs," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(14), pages 1-9, July.
    2. Shan Parker & Vicki Johnson-Lawrence, 2022. "Addressing Trauma-Informed Principles in Public Health through Training and Practice," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-14, July.
    3. Chelsey Kirkland & Kari Oldfield-Tabbert & Harshada Karnik & Jason Orr & Skky Martin & Jonathon P. Leider, 2022. "Public Health Workforce Gaps, Impacts, and Improvement Strategies from COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-13, October.
    4. Mi-Na Kim & Yang-Sook Yoo & Ok-Hee Cho & Kyung-Hye Hwang, 2022. "Emotional Labor and Burnout of Public Health Nurses during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Mediating Effects of Perceived Health Status and Perceived Organizational Support," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-12, January.
    5. Susan E. Peters & Glorian Sorensen & Jeffrey N. Katz & Daniel A. Gundersen & Gregory R. Wagner, 2021. "Thriving from Work: Conceptualization and Measurement," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-20, July.
    6. Chulwoo Park & Eric Coles, 2022. "The Impact of Student Debt on Career Choices among Doctor of Public Health Graduates in the United States: A Descriptive Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-13, April.
    7. Cristi Cain & D. Charles Hunt & Melissa Armstrong & Vicki L. Collie-Akers & Elizabeth Ablah, 2022. "Reasons for Turnover of Kansas Public Health Officials during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-15, November.
    8. Marin G. Olson & Karly M. Pyles & Danielle Kristen Nadorff, 2023. "Give until It Hurts: An Exploratory Analysis of Mental Health Workers’ Wellness," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(20), pages 1-11, October.
    9. Florian Fischer & Julia Wicherski & Myriam Tobollik & Timothy McCall, 2022. "Experiences Shared by the (Future) Public Health Workforce during the COVD-19 Pandemic in Germany: Results of a Survey on Workload, Work Content, and Related Challenges among Students and Young Profes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-16, September.

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