Level of stress and burnout among intern rehabilitation health professionals: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Work-related stress and burnout are now pervasive problems that the World Health Organization refers to as a global epidemic. The high prevalence of stress among healthcare professional results in burnout, which affects their ability to provide quality services to their clients. There is a need to develop intervention strategies to lower perceived stress and burnout and ensure well-being among professionals, particularly interns. The study aims to measure the level of stress and burnout among intern rehabilitation health professionals. Method: A cross-sectional quantitative study was incorporated to achieve the study's aim and objectives. An information sheet, consent form, and survey questionnaires were distributed among 110 intern rehabilitation health professionals. The Workplace Stress Scale and Oldenburg Burnout Inventory Scale were translated into Bangla. A field test among three participants was conducted. The Fixer Exact Test was used to test the association of socio-demographic factors with stress. Results: According to the Workplace Stress Scale, of the participants, 22.5% had fairly low stress, 60.6% had moderate stress, which is the highest, 12.7% had severe stress, and 4.2% had potentially dangerous stress levels (n = 71). Most participants, 62.5% (2.69±0.69), were at a moderate level of burnout, and 37.5% (2.36±0.59) were at a high level of burnout. It also shows that among all the participants, 43.7% were in a low level of exhaustion, and 56.3% were at a moderate level. 75% of the participants were at a moderate disengagement level, and the other 25% were at a high disengagement level. The study did not show any significant differences in association with age, sex, or marital status. However, there is a significant association between stress and duration of sleep; the P-value was less than 0.05 (P = 0.01). Conclusion: This study highlights that most participants reported moderate levels of stress and burnout, significantly impacting their well-being and potentially affecting the quality of care they provide. The study emphasizes the need for intervention strategies to reduce stress and burnout and promote well-being. Further research and the implementation of targeted support programs are necessary to address these issues and ensure the quality of healthcare services. Keywords: Stress, Burnout, Internship, Healthcare professionals, Workplace Stress Scale, Oldenburg Burnout Inventory Scale