Keywords: Primary Health Care, burnout professional, administrative personnel, nurses, general practitioners

Introduction:

The pandemic has had a significant emotional impact on healthcare professionals. This study aims to analyze the prevalence of burnout among the three primary groups within these teams (nursing, medicine, and administrative support staff) and track its evolution from the pandemic to the present day.

Method:

This is a multicentre descriptive cross-sectional study carried out on 1,200 professionals from 33 primary care teams in Catalonia by means of convenience sampling in May 2021, May 2022, May 2023, and May 2025. Sociodemographic variables and professional exhaustion (burnout) were analysed. We define burnout when the individual obtains high scores simultaneously in the three spheres analysed by the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-HSS): Emotional Exhaustion (EE) >=27 points, Depersonalisation or Cynicism (DP) >=10 points, and Personal Accomplishment (PA) =< 33 points.

Results:

Throughout the study period, 1,064 surveys were received: 445 from physicians, 312 from nurses, and 307 from administrative staff. 2021 recorded the highest response rate (33%), while 2025 saw the lowest (18%). Burnout levels among medical staff decreased from 28.7% in 2021 to 12.3% in 2025. In nursing, levels fell from 21.1% in 2021 to 9% in 2025, reaching a peak of 24% in 2023. Administrative staff reported a burnout rate of 27.1% in 2021, which dropped to 21.7% in 2022, spiked to 40% in 2023, and stands at 33.3% in 2025.

Conclusions:

A general downward trend in burnout levels has been observed since 2021, despite a rebound in 2023. However, the three groups do not exhibit the same behavior. Administrative staff show higher levels in the last two years than in the immediate post-pandemic period, with figures that are deeply concerning. Although healthcare workers suffered a greater initial impact after the pandemic, administrative personnel are currently overwhelmed. Institutions should prioritize organizational interventions to reverse this situation, particularly within this specific group.