Relationship between Job Burnout and Quality of Life in Nurses of Intensive Care Units during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused job burnout in nurses, followed by a decrease in the quality of life and the quality of care services provided to the patients. Regarding the prevalence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the researcher's experience, the present study aimed to determine the relationship between job burnout and the quality of life of nurses in intensive care units during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This descriptive-correlational study was conducted on 140 nurses working in the intensive care units (including ICU and CCU) of public hospitals in Ilam province from February 10 to March 10, 2021 (the sixth peak of COVID-19). The participants were selected using the total population sampling method. The required data were collected through demographic characteristics form, Maslach Burnout Inventory (1985), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument (2004). The collected data were then analyzed in SPSS software (version 26) through Pearson's correlation coefficient and regression at the significance level of P<0.05.

In this study, the mean±SD values of job burnout and quality of life were obtained at 76.1±11.4 and 72.9±5.9, respectively. There was a significant inverse correlation between job burnout and quality of life (r=-0.296, P<0.001). Furthermore, the linear regression test of the components of personality distortion and individual performance did not show a significant effect on the quality of life of nurses. The component of emotional exhaustion (P=0.001) had a significant negative effect on the quality of life of nurses working at intensive care units.

Managers must adopt support, encouragement, and educational programs to prevent adverse effects on nurses during the outbreak of health crises.