Article

Career burnout and psychological consistency among radiation workers in China: a cross section study

¹ Department of Radiation Protection, Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
² National Institute for Radiation Protection, China Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing, People’s Republic of China

^* Corresponding author: cuilimeng1103@sina.com

Received: 24 December 2021
Accepted: 18 May 2022

Abstract

We conducted a survey on the mental status, including burnout, sense of coherence (SOC) and anxiety about radiation exposure among medical radiation workers in China. SOC levels were evaluated through a validated scale, SOC-13. Burnout was measured using the 22-item version of Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey for Medical Personnel (MBI-HSS). A total of 277 medical radiation workers answered the questionnaire. The mean values of SOC-13 and burnout were 50 (SD 13.5) and 79.7 (SD 25.7), respectively. The sum scores of SOC-13 and MBI-HSS were significantly linear correlated (p < 0.01, F = 284.239, adjusted R² = 0.506). Anxiety about radiation exposure was significantly associated with intention to leave employment ( χ ² = 66.535, p < 0.001, Cramer’s v = 0.347, p < 0.001). The participants who have no anxiety about radiation exposure have significantly higher scores of sense of coherence than those who have mild and moderate anxiety (p < 0.01); they have lower scores of burnout (p < 0.01). The participants who have no intention to leave employment have significantly higher scores of sense of coherence and lower scores of burnout than those who have an intention or hesitate to leave (p < 0.01).

Most participants in this study showed considerable caution about whether to participate in radiation work during pregnancy. Anxiety about radiation exposure was considered a contributing factor for burnout and led to the intention to leave employment. Efforts to design targeted interventions, such as educational programs, to mitigate radiation anxiety in medical radiation workers are warranted.