Abstract:

The term Burnout was introduced in the clinical practice and in the scientific literature by the American psychiatrist Hurbert Freudenberger in 1974, after observation of some typical symptoms in his colleagues. The clinical presentation of this condition includes physical and psychological manifestations, behavioral changes and specific development. Principally burnout is a professional phenomenon, but the actual worldwide crisis provoked the distribution of burnout in various groups.

One month after the beginning of the first lockdown of the actual COVID-19 pandemic (in our country - march 2020) we tested our trainees and students with a specific questionnaire, based on the classic Burnout Inventory of the American psychologists Christina Maslach and Susan Jackson for burnout. After the statistical analysis of the observed results we decided to include some lectures and practice on this topics in the education and longlife learning courses of medical doctors - specialists and trainees in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM) and for our students - in Bachelor's degree (specialties Physiotherapy, Nursing, Midwifery and in Medical Rehabilitation and Ergotherapy) and in Master's degree (Medical rehabilitation and Balneology, Medical Cosmetics, Physiotherapy).

In the educational module we included some presentations on the topics: aetiology and pathogenesis of the burnout, clinical manifestations and stages of development; epidemiological specificities of burnout in the medical and paramedical staff; differential diagnosis between stress, distress and burnout; principles of treatment of burnout, including balance between work and family life, psychological interventions, potential of physical modalities for prevention of burnout. We prepared some video-films for explanation of specific physiotherapeutic, balneotherapeutic and ergotherapeutic methods, including: regular physical activity, fitness, relaxing therapies and procedures (massages, SPA, weekends at the seaside or the mountain).

Current work presents a comparative evaluation of the level of burnout in our students before and after the introduction of this educational module (remote education).

Keywords:

Online education, burnout, assessment, questionnaire.