TY - JOUR
T1 - Evaluating workforce well-being
T2 - An investigation of healthcare professionals' mental health and burnout symptoms at the Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 Paralympic Games
AU - Eken, Maaike
AU - Runciman, Phoebe
AU - Badenhorst, Marelise
AU - Blauwet, Cheri
AU - Gouttebarge, Vincent
AU - Swartz, Leslie
AU - Derman, Wayne
N1 - Funding Information: Funding for this study was provided by the 2021 IOC Medical and Scientific Research Fund and the IOC Research Centre South Africa grant. Publisher Copyright: © 2023 Author(s). Published by BMJ.
PY - 2023/11/1
Y1 - 2023/11/1
N2 - Objective: To explore the prevalence of symptoms of mental health conditions and burnout of healthcare professionals (HCPs) working during the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games. Methods: In this cross-sectional, observational study, HCPs working during the Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 Paralympic Games were asked to complete an online, anonymous survey, which included demographic questions and questions regarding mental health symptoms including depression (Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item depression scale) and anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale) as well as burnout (Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey: depersonalisation, emotional exhaustion, personal accomplishment). Correlation coefficients (r) were calculated between demographic characteristics and mental health symptoms. Results: In total, 256 HCPs (of 857 HCPs; 30%) completed the surveys. Twelve and eight per cent of HCP scores fell within the moderate to severe depression and moderate to severe anxiety categories, respectively. More than 30% reported moderate to high burnout (depersonalisation: 36%; emotional exhaustion: 36%; personal accomplishment: 58%). In addition, thoughts of self-harm and/or suicidality were reported by some HCPs (8%). Weak correlations were observed between age and depression (r=-0.13, p=0.046), anxiety (r=-0.16, p=0.010) and burnout (emotional exhaustion: r=-0.14, p=0.032; personal accomplishment: r=0.27, p<0.001). Conclusion: Although most HCPs reported good mental health, this study suggests that a subset of HCPs experienced symptoms of depression, anxiety, burnout or thoughts of self-harm during the Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 Paralympic Games. While the generalisability of these findings outside of COVID-19 restrictions should be tested, appropriate guidance and mental health support of HCPs leading up to the Paralympic Games should be prioritised.
AB - Objective: To explore the prevalence of symptoms of mental health conditions and burnout of healthcare professionals (HCPs) working during the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games. Methods: In this cross-sectional, observational study, HCPs working during the Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 Paralympic Games were asked to complete an online, anonymous survey, which included demographic questions and questions regarding mental health symptoms including depression (Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item depression scale) and anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale) as well as burnout (Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey: depersonalisation, emotional exhaustion, personal accomplishment). Correlation coefficients (r) were calculated between demographic characteristics and mental health symptoms. Results: In total, 256 HCPs (of 857 HCPs; 30%) completed the surveys. Twelve and eight per cent of HCP scores fell within the moderate to severe depression and moderate to severe anxiety categories, respectively. More than 30% reported moderate to high burnout (depersonalisation: 36%; emotional exhaustion: 36%; personal accomplishment: 58%). In addition, thoughts of self-harm and/or suicidality were reported by some HCPs (8%). Weak correlations were observed between age and depression (r=-0.13, p=0.046), anxiety (r=-0.16, p=0.010) and burnout (emotional exhaustion: r=-0.14, p=0.032; personal accomplishment: r=0.27, p<0.001). Conclusion: Although most HCPs reported good mental health, this study suggests that a subset of HCPs experienced symptoms of depression, anxiety, burnout or thoughts of self-harm during the Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 Paralympic Games. While the generalisability of these findings outside of COVID-19 restrictions should be tested, appropriate guidance and mental health support of HCPs leading up to the Paralympic Games should be prioritised.
KW - sports medicine
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85164428637&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2022-106582
DO - https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2022-106582
M3 - Article
C2 - 37258063
SN - 0306-3674
VL - 57
SP - 1382
EP - 1387
JO - British Journal of Sports Medicine
JF - British Journal of Sports Medicine
IS - 21
M1 - bjsports-2022-106582
ER -