Wellbeing and Resilience of the Intensive Care Workforce

In Australia there are over 200 intensive care units that provide a rolling exponential service to the broader community through acute care facilities with an over 30,000-person workforce. Previous work has reported that burnout was at epidemic levels even before the COVID-19 pandemic with 30% of these clinicians experiencing at least one symptom of burnout. 

Described nearly half a century ago, burnout is defined as a work-related condition characterised by three symptoms: emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, and a reduced sense of personal accomplishment which can develop into a chronic health condition.  

Goal 

Reduce burnout and improve wellbeing among healthcare professionals in high-pressure work environments. 

Aims 

• To understand the effects and levels of burnout and related traits amongst intensive care professionals in Australia, Canada and New Zealand 
  
• To determine the best-available evidence for prevention, or reduction of effects of, burnout in health professionals in intensive care work environments 
  
• Co-design interventions with impact that reduce or prevent burnout and improve wellbeing among healthcare professionals 
  
• Pilot, trial and publish results of the interventions in the intensive care workforce in Australia.