The Prevalence and Contributing Factors of Burnout Among Anesthesiologists and Intensive Care Unit Staff in Morocco: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Introduction Burnout is a common issue in the medical field, particularly in specialties like anaesthesiology and intensive care. It carries significant personal and professional consequences for healthcare providers and can impact the relationship between caregivers and patients. Despite its seriousness, there's been limited research on its causes in North Africa. In this study, our aim was straightforward: we wanted to find out how prevalent burnout is among Moroccan healthcare workers in anaesthesiology and intensive care and identify the main factors contributing to it. Methods To achieve this, we conducted a comprehensive multicenter cross-sectional study that included hospitals from different regions of Morocco. We focused on anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists currently practicing in these settings. We measured burnout using the French version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Results We distributed 500 questionnaires and received and analyzed 396 of them, accounting for an 84% response rate. The results were striking: 48% of participants experienced high emotional exhaustion, 43.2% had a significant level of depersonalization, and 21% exhibited a low sense of personal accomplishment. When we looked at various factors, such as age, income, on-call duties, years of experience, and work location, our analysis showed statistically significant differences in all three dimensions of burnout. In our more complex multivariate analysis, we found that the risk factors for all three dimensions of burnout were practicing for 5 to 15 years and participating in on-call rotations. Surprisingly, practicing for over 25 years seemed to be a protective factor against all dimensions of burnout. Conclusion Our study clearly indicates that burnout is a shared issue among healthcare professionals in anaesthesiology and intensive care units in Morocco. Importantly, we've pinpointed specific risk factors that should be the foundation for a national strategy to prevent burnout in these critical healthcare sectors.