Burnout, Secondary Traumatic Stress and Inflammatory Biomarkers in ICU Healthcare Workers

NCT07437443 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: EFSH-ICU-STRESS-2026-22-35
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 140
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Healthcare professionals working in intensive care units (ICUs) are frequently exposed to high levels of psychological stress due to critically ill patients, frequent encounters with death, complex clinical decision-making, and prolonged working hours. This environment increases the risk of burnout and secondary traumatic stress, which may not only affect mental well-being but also have measurable physiological consequences. Emerging evidence suggests that chronic psychological stress and burnout may influence immune function through activation of proinflammatory pathways. Elevated levels of inflammatory biomarkers such as C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) have been associated with stress-related conditions. However, data examining the relationship between burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and inflammatory biomarkers in intensive care healthcare workers remain limited. This cross-sectional observational study aims to investigate the association between burnout and secondary traumatic stress levels, assessed using validated psychometric instruments (Maslach Burnout Inventory and Professional Quality of Life Scale), and inflammatory biomarkers (CRP, IL-6, TNF-α, and NLR) in ICU healthcare workers. Blood samples will be obtained in conjunction with routine annual health screening, and additional serum samples will be collected for biomarker analysis. The study seeks to clarify the psychoneuroimmunological mechanisms underlying occupational stress in critical care settings.

Conditions

Burnout; Secondary Traumatic Stress; Occupational Stress; Inflammation; Critical Care Staff

Keywords

Burnout; Secondary Traumatic Stress; Intensive Care Unit; Healthcare Workers; Interleukin-6; TNF-alpha

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Association Between Burnout Levels and Inflammatory Biomarkers

  Evaluation of the relationship between Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-HSS) total and subscale scores and inflammatory biomarker levels (CRP, IL-6, TNF-α, and NLR) using correlation and multivariable linear regression analysis.

  At the time of assessment (single time point)

Study Arms (1)

ICU Healthcare Workers

Healthcare professionals aged 18 years and older working in intensive care units (anesthesia, internal medicine, and chest diseases ICUs) who voluntarily participate in the study. Participants will complete validated psychometric scales assessing burnout and secondary traumatic stress, and blood samples will be collected for inflammatory biomarker analysis.

Other: Psychometric Assessment and Blood Sampling

Interventions

Psychometric Assessment and Blood Sampling OTHER

Administration of validated burnout and secondary traumatic stress questionnaires and collection of blood samples for inflammatory biomarker analysis. No therapeutic or clinical intervention is performed.

ICU Healthcare Workers

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population consists of healthcare professionals working in intensive care units (anesthesia, internal medicine, and chest diseases ICUs) at Elazığ Fethi Sekin City Hospital. Participants include physicians, nurses, anesthesia technicians, and other healthcare staff who are actively involved in the care of critically ill patients. All participants are adults undergoing routine annual occupational health screening and voluntarily agree to participate in the study.

You may qualify if:

• Age ≥18 years
• Active employment in an intensive care unit (anesthesia, internal medicine, or chest diseases ICU)
• Participation in routine annual occupational health screening
• Willingness to provide additional blood sample for research purposes
• Voluntary participation with written informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Active infection at the time of assessment
• Use of systemic steroids, immunosuppressive agents, or chemotherapy within the last 4 weeks
• Known autoimmune or rheumatologic disease
• Hematologic malignancy or severe hematologic disorder
• Pregnancy
• Refusal to provide additional blood sample
• Incomplete questionnaire data

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Elazıg Fethi Sekin Sehir Hastanesi: lead

Study Sites (1)

Fethi Sekin City Hospital

Elâzığ, Elâzığ, 23100, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Burnout, Psychological; Compassion Fatigue; Occupational Stress; Inflammation

Interventions

Blood Specimen Collection

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Stress, Psychological; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior; Mental Fatigue; Fatigue; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Occupational Diseases; Pathologic Processes

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Specimen Handling; Clinical Laboratory Techniques; Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures; Diagnosis; Punctures; Surgical Procedures, Operative; Investigative Techniques

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: OTHER
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 22, 2026
• First Posted: February 27, 2026
• Study Start: February 23, 2026
• Primary Completion: March 1, 2026
• Study Completion: March 10, 2026
• Last Updated: April 23, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Locations

TU (1)