ANALYSIS AND ASSESSMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL BURNOUT AMONG PUBLIC HEALTH SPECIALISTS OF VOLYN REGION

Abstract

The aim is to study the presence and level of professional burnout among public health specialists in the Volyn region. Materials and methods of the study. To assess professional burnout, the Nikiforov G.S. questionnaire was used. The level of anxiety and depression was measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The survey was conducted anonymously in a Google form among specialists of the State Institution “Volyn Central Public Health Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine”. The research employed sociological, statistical, and systems analysis methods. Results. The study revealed a generally high level of emotional exhaustion, averaging 27.26 ± 1.24 points (low in 10.6% of respondents, medium in 34.0%, high in 55.4%). The level of depersonalization was moderate, with a mean score of 9.70 ± 1.39 points (low in 36.2%, medium in 34.0%, high in 29.8%). The level of reduced personal accomplishment was also high, averaging 29.32 ± 1.23 points (low in 6.4%, medium in 21.3%, high in 72.3%). A statistically significant inverse correlation of medium strength was identified between the level of depersonalization and gender (r = –0.30, p = 0.042, coefficient of determination = 9.0%). The level of emotional exhaustion in individuals whose relatives are in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was high. In the group of individuals whose relatives do not participate in the war, it was medium. The level of depersonalization and reduction of personal achievements also prevailed in individuals whose relatives are in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Anxiety was detected in 63.3% of respondents, depression in 46.7%. A combination of both anxiety and depression was observed in 36.7%. A significant direct medium correlation between depression and emotional burnout was established (r = 0.51, p = 0.011, coefficient of determination = 26.0%). Conclusions. Public health specialists in the Volyn region have been found to have professional burnout: a high level of emotional exhaustion and reduction of personal achievements, and a medium level of depersonalization. Factors that significantly contribute to the development of professional burnout have been identified. Thus, the development of depersonalization is influenced by gender, and the occurrence of emotional exhaustion is influenced by the participation of relatives in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the presence of depression.