[The symptoms of burnout and possible interpretations among the healthcare workers of the Emergency Department in Szentes].

INTRODUCTION: Burnout has emerged as an increasingly prominent phenomenon not only among healthcare professionals but also within society as a whole. Its development is multifactorial, involving the complex interplay of individual characteristics and environmental influences. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore burnout among healthcare workers at the Emergency Department in Szentes, three years after the end of the pandemic crisis. We strive to identify correlations that may support more effective burnout prevention and intervention strategies. METHOD: We used the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the Caldwell Social Support Scale, and Oláh's Psychological Immune System Inventory. A total of 41% (38 individuals) of healthcare workers at the Szentes Emergency Department participated, a rate consistent with similar studies. RESULTS: Burnout syndrome was identified in 97.1% of participants. Emotional exhaustion was present in 68.4%, depersonalization in 55.2%, and reduced personal accomplishment in 23.6%. In 65.3% of respondents, multiple areas were affected simultaneously. A significant correlation was found between burnout severity and both the strength of the psychological immune system and the perceived social support. DISCUSSION: The elevated burnout rates may be attributed to heightened emotional and cognitive demands during the pandemic, the persistence of a prolonged crisis state, and institutional reorganization, alongside societal and global events. Social support and the psychological immune system emerge as protective factors in coping with burnout. CONCLUSION: The marked emotional and cognitive exhaustion observed among healthcare professionals may stem from insufficient targeted processing of the pandemic-related crisis, as well as from environmental factors such as institutional changes, increased patient load, and workforce shortages, which may exacerbate burnout symptoms and require further investigation. The continuous presence of a psychologist, targeted training programs, and a stronger focus on team-building may support crisis processing and reduce burnout. Orv Hetil. 2026; 167(11): 430-438.