Orv Hetil. 2026 Apr 5;167(14):547-555. doi: 10.1556/650.2026.33516. Print 2026 Apr 5.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Greater emphasis must be placed on monitoring mental health in the healthcare sector in order to ensure the standard and quality of patient care, taking into account psychosocial and socioeconomic factors. The mental state of healthcare professionals plays a major role in patient safety.
OBJECTIVE: To assess and compare the general well-being, depression, and burnout levels of healthcare professionals in a sample from Békés county (Hungary) and Hargita county (Romania).
METHOD: We conducted our cross-sectional questionnaire survey among nurses in Békés and Hargita counties using the WHO Well-Being Questionnaire, the Beck Depression Questionnaire, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory. We analyzed our responses using chi-square and t-tests, nonparametric measurement tools, and Spearman’s correlation analysis (p<0.05) with the help of SPSS 30.0 software. The study included 117 Hungarian and 109 Romanian professionals (n = 226).
RESULTS: Based on the results, we found that there was no significant correlation between general well-being (p = 0.772), depressive symptoms (p = 0.338), and burnout in the dimensions of depersonalization (p = 0.090) and personal efficacy (p = 0.586) in the two groups studied. Among Hungarian professionals, emotional exhaustion is significantly higher (p<0.05) and their subjective assessment of their general and mental health is worse than that of their Romanian colleagues (p<0.05).
DISCUSSION: We detected a risk of depression and burnout in both target groups. The study highlights the need for intervention in the mental health of Hungarian healthcare professionals and the justification for further research into the causal factors.
CONCLUSION: The workload of healthcare professionals remains high in the post-pandemic period, and the domestic situation is further complicated by the fact that chronic diseases are more prevalent among Hungarian nurses, which has a significant impact on our mental health indicators. Improving mental health would require reforming the sector, increasing the frequency of continuing education, and integrating practical mental hygiene methods. Orv Hetil. 2026; 167(14): 547-555.
PMID:41936032 | DOI:10.1556/650.2026.33516
