Burnout in Inexperienced South African Occupational Therapists during the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown

The COVID-19 pandemic further added to the work stress in vulnerable inexperienced health professionals establishing their professional identity. The objective of this study was to analyze burnout among South African occupational therapists, with between 2 and 5 years of experience, during COVID-19 lockdown. A survey using the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS), completed by 261 occupational therapists indicated higher levels of emotional exhaustion (EE) and depersonalization (DP) than that reported in normative data and occupational therapy studies. Over 60% of participants indicated a high level of personal accomplishment (PA), a protective factor to burnout in occupational therapy.

Automated summary

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased work stress for vulnerable inexperienced health professionals in establishing their professional identity. A study on South African occupational therapists with 2 to 5 years of experience during COVID-19 lockdown found higher levels of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization compared to normative data and occupational therapy studies. However, over 60% of therapists reported a high level of personal accomplishment, which is a protective factor against burnout in occupational therapy.