Background and aim: Professional Quality of Life (ProQoL) is essential for understanding the well-being of the healthcare professionals working in high-stress environments, such as the intensive care units (ICUs). – This study aimed to assess the influence of age, gender, hospital affiliation, and professional role on the ProQoL dimensions (Compassion Satisfaction – CS, Burnout – BO, Secondary Traumatic Stress – STS) and to analyze the relationship between the perceptions of patient safety (measured via the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire – SAQ) and the professional quality of life.
Method: This cross-sectional observational study included 247 healthcare professionals (April-November 2024) from 20 different hospitals, working in ICUs (nurses, attending physicians, medical residents -, and other staff). Participants filled out the ProQoL and SAQ questionnaires out of which only 10 SAQ items were used. Statistical analyses were performed using ANOVA, t-tests, and Pearson correlation coefficients.
Results: Medical residents and participants in the 20–30 age group reported having the highest burnout scores (28.37 ± 0.37), and the lowest level of compassion satisfaction score (36.65±0.61), while attending physicians had elevated levels of secondary traumatic stress (25.69±0.57). Positive perceptions of the work environment (safety, conflict resolution, workplace satisfaction) were negatively correlated with the burnout (r = –0.5888, p < 0.0001). Finally, the perception of a pleasant job and workplace positively correlates with the CS score (r=0.53 p˂0.0001).
Conclusions: Professional well-being varies significantly in terms of age, and position. These findings suggest that workplace strategies focusing on safety, teamwork, and workload balance may play a role in supporting the ICU staff well-being.