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COVID-19

COVID-19 Pandemic Takes a Toll on Primary Health Workers in China

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Research published in the Journal of Clinical Nursing has highlighted the growing concern of job burnout among primary health workers in China, who have been working tirelessly on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study of 785 primary health workers revealed that 18.7% experienced high emotional exhaustion, 10.4% suffered from depersonalization, and 39.5% had high job burnout in the personal accomplishment dimension. The study further found that workload and work-family conflict were significant predictors of job burnout, with work-family conflict mediating the relationship between workload and job burnout.

Key Takeaways:

  • Primary health workers in China are experiencing high levels of job burnout, especially in the personal accomplishment dimension, with 39.5% of respondents reporting high job burnout.
  • The study found that 34.6% of respondents had high or very high workload, and 12.8% had high or very high work-family conflict.
  • Workload (beta = 0.163, CI = 0.207-0.549) and work-family conflict (beta = 0.211, CI = 0.311-0.640) positively influenced job burnout.
  • The study verified the mediating effect of work-family conflict between workload and job burnout.
  • Interventions such as workplace assistance programs, family-friendly policies, and a well-integrated healthcare system are recommended to alleviate job burnout among primary health workers.
  • Shichao Zhao, Jianyun Wang, Xiyang Tong, Minghui Wang, and Yiying Wang from Shandong Normal University conducted the research.

Statistics:

  • 18.7% of primary health workers experienced high emotional exhaustion.
  • 10.4% suffered from depersonalization.
  • 39.5% experienced high job burnout in the personal accomplishment dimension.
  • 34.6% of respondents had high or very high workload.
  • 12.8% had high or very high work-family conflict.
  • Beta coefficient for workload on job burnout: 0.163 (CI = 0.207-0.549).
  • Beta coefficient for work-family conflict on job burnout: 0.211 (CI = 0.311-0.640).

Sources:

  • Work-family Conflict Among Primary Health Workers During the Covid-19 Pandemic: Its Mediating Role In the Relationship Between Workload and Job Burnout. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 2024;33(10):3933-3942.
  • NewsRx. Findings on COVID-19 Reported by Investigators at Shandong Normal University (Work-family Conflict Among Primary Health Workers During the Covid-19 Pandemic: Its Mediating Role In the Relationship Between Workload and Job Burnout). Medical Letter on the CDC & FDA. September 14, 2025; p 102.

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