Workplace Environment and Burnout in Public Health Workforce Inspection Services in Greece during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Evidence regarding the strong links between emotional exhaustion, personal accomplishment, depersonalization, total occupational burnout and workplace environment, and their consequences for the general well-being of employees in public health inspection workforce services, is limited. The aim of this study was to report the burnout of the public health workforce in Greece and investigate possible relationships with the workplace environment during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a quantitative, cross-sectional, nationwide research study in Greece, conducted in the second quarter of 2021. An online survey was conducted. The response rate was 27%. Burnout was measured using the Maslach Burnout Inventory Questionnaire; 19.46% of participants reported low burnout levels, 37.84% of participants reported medium burnout levels, and 42.70% reported high (above average) burnout levels. The total burnout score of rural environments was higher compared to all other groups (χ2 = 16.017), (β = 0.455), p < 0.001. Medium levels of emotional exhaustion were reported. Depersonalization scores were low. The personal accomplishment score was higher in rural environments compared to all other groups (χ2 = 26.417). The depersonalization score was higher in semi-urban environments compared to all other groups (χ2 = 6.188). The findings indicate that burnout has proven to be an issue. This study contributes to the limited evidence supporting links associations and correlations between burnout and workplace environment and adds new information regarding occupational health and safety factors for workplace environment, which could be exploited to advance the quality of public health services provision during the COVID-19 pandemic in Greece.