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An Intensive Longitudinal Assessment Approach to Surveilling Trajectories of Burnout over the First Year of the COVID Pandemic

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  • Cynthia X. Pan

    (NewYork-Presbyterian Queens Hospital, Flushing, NY 11355, USA
    Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA)

  • Robert Crupi

    (NewYork-Presbyterian Queens Hospital, Flushing, NY 11355, USA
    Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA)

  • Phyllis August

    (NewYork-Presbyterian Queens Hospital, Flushing, NY 11355, USA
    Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA)

  • Varuna Sundaram

    (NewYork-Presbyterian Queens Hospital, Flushing, NY 11355, USA
    Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA)

  • Allison A. Norful

    (School of Nursing, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA)

  • Joseph E. Schwartz

    (Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA)

  • Andrew S. Miele

    (Department of Psychology, St. John’s University, New York, NY 11439, USA)

  • R. Rhiannon Simons

    (Department of Psychology, St. John’s University, New York, NY 11439, USA)

  • Emilia E. Mikrut

    (Department of Psychology, St. John’s University, New York, NY 11439, USA)

  • Elizabeth Brondolo

    (Department of Psychology, St. John’s University, New York, NY 11439, USA)

Abstract

Frontline clinicians responding to the COVID-19 pandemic are at increased risk of burnout, but less is known about the trajectory of clinician burnout as caseloads increase and decrease. Personal and professional resources, including self-efficacy and hospital support, can attenuate the risk of burnout. Yet, empirical data documenting how burnout and resources changed as the pandemic waxed and waned are limited. This intensive longitudinal prospective study employed ecological momentary assessment methods to examine trajectories of burnout and resources over the pandemic’s first year in a New York City hospital. A 10-item survey was emailed every 5 days to frontline clinicians (physicians, nurses, and physician assistants). The primary outcome was a single-item validated measure of burnout; predictors included daily hospital COVID-19-related caseloads and personal and professional resources. Clinicians ( n = 398) completed the initial survey and an average of 12 surveys over the year. Initially, 45.3% of staff reported burnout; over the year, 58.7% reported burnout. Following the initial COVID peak, caseloads declined, and burnout levels declined. During the second wave of COVID, as caseloads increased and remained elevated and personal and professional resource levels decreased, burnout increased. This novel application of intensive longitudinal assessment enabled ongoing surveillance of burnout and permitted us to evaluate how fluctuations in caseload intensity and personal and professional resources related to burnout over time. The surveillance data support the need for intensified resource allocation during prolonged pandemics.

Suggested Citation

  • Cynthia X. Pan & Robert Crupi & Phyllis August & Varuna Sundaram & Allison A. Norful & Joseph E. Schwartz & Andrew S. Miele & R. Rhiannon Simons & Emilia E. Mikrut & Elizabeth Brondolo, 2023. "An Intensive Longitudinal Assessment Approach to Surveilling Trajectories of Burnout over the First Year of the COVID Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-20, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:4:p:2930-:d:1061150
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Grace, Matthew K. & VanHeuvelen, Jane S., 2019. "Occupational variation in burnout among medical staff: Evidence for the stress of higher status," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 232(C), pages 199-208.
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