Risk Factors Surrounding an Increase in Burnout and Depression Among Health Care Professionals in Taiwan During the COVID-19 Pandemic

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the risk factors surrounding an increase in both burnout levels and depression among health care professionals in Taiwan through use of a longitudinal study design. DESIGN: This is a 2-year observational study that took place from January 2019 to December 2020. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Data among health care professionals were extracted from the Overload Health Control System of a tertiary medical center in central Taiwan. METHODS: Burnout was measured through use of the Chinese version of the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (C-CBI), whereas depression was ascertained by the Taiwanese Depression Questionnaire. Each participant provided both burnout and depression measurements during a nonpandemic period (2019) as well as during the COVID pandemic era (2020). Risk factors surrounding an increase in burnout levels and depression were analyzed through a multivariate logistic regression model with adjusting confounding factors. RESULTS: Two thousand nineteen participants completed the questionnaire over 2 consecutive years, including 132 visiting doctors, 105 resident doctors, 1371 nurses, and 411 medical technicians. After adjustments, sleeplessness, daily working hours >8, and stress due to one’s workload were all found to be risk factors for an increase in depression levels, whereas sleeplessness, lack of exercise, and stress due to one’s workload were all found to be risk factors for an increase in personal burnout level. Being a member of the nursing staff, a younger age, sleeplessness, and lack of exercise were all risk factors for an increase in work-related burnout levels. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Poor sleep, lack of exercise, long working hours, and being a member of the nursing staff were risk factors regarding an increase in personal burnout, work-related burnout levels and depression among health care professionals. Leaders within the hospital should investigate the working conditions and personal habits of all medical staff regularly and systematically during the COVID-19 pandemic and take any necessary preventive measures, such as improving resilience for nursing staff, in order to best care for their employees.