BURNOUT IN DOCTORS - STRATEGIES FOR A HEALTHIER PRACTICE
WHAT CAUSES BURNOUT?
This 2022 review focuses on the profound link between chronic stress at the workplace and burnout.
SYMPTOMS OF BURNOUT:
The symptoms of burnout are rather complex and exhibit different stages.
The burnout process starts with recognizing numerous tough workdays, leading to a struggle in coping. One's life often centers around work, causing social life and other activities to be neglected.
As overwork becomes chronic, it badly affects the person emotionally and physically. Efforts do not visibly pay off, taking a toll on one's performance and leading to powerlessness and frustration.
BURNOUT IN HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS:
Burnout is exceptionally high among doctors and nurses, especially those in frontline specialties such as emergency medicine and surgery. These professionals face a significant risk of experiencing compassion fatigue.
More than half of healthcare workers report symptoms of burnout, and many struggle with insomnia, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other mental health challenges. This heightened level of stress increases the likelihood of making mistakes, as studies have shown that doctors who are burned out are more prone to committing significant medical errors.
HOW TO PREVENT BURNOUT IN HEALTHCARE WORKERS:
Prioritizing their well-being can help healthcare workers prevent burnout and maintain exceptional care. A comprehensive approach is essential to addressing both individual and organizational factors in managing burnout. Here are some best practices:
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WORK-LIFE BALANCE FOR HEALTHCARE STAFF:
The study evaluates the relationship between burnout syndrome, anxiety levels, and insomnia severity among healthcare workers who primarily work extended shifts. An increased awareness of the impact of sleep deprivation and anxiety among healthcare workers and meaningful interventions promoting change within the system are needed. Encouraging healthcare providers to maintain a healthy balance between work and personal life is vital.
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SUPPORTIVE WORK ENVIRONMENT:
It's crucial for healthcare workers to assess and address workload issues that contribute to burnout, so the organization must encourage open communication, teamwork, and mutual respect among colleagues. Leaders should prioritize employee health and model healthy behaviors themselves by providing resources for stress management, including counseling services, mindfulness training,stress reduction workshops and burnout prevention programs for healthcare workers.
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SELF-CARE PRACTICES FOR COPING WITH MEDICAL BURNOUT:
Prioritizing physical and mental well-being requires following healthy lifestyle habits such as regular exercise, a nutritious diet, adequate sleep, and relaxation techniques. - Research clearly demonstrates that relaxation techniques such as mindfulness, art therapy, and resilience retreats significantly reduce anxiety, stress, and burnout. Moreover, the ongoing self-care practice leads to remarkable improvements in quality of life.
A WORD FROM MENTAL NURTURING:
“Never overestimate the strength of the torchbearer’s arm, for even the strongest arms grow weary.”
-AJ Darkholme, Rise of the Morningstar.
Burnout is a work-related stress syndrome presenting with emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced professional efficacy. Burnout and poor mental health among healthcare workers have reached a crisis point, as highlighted by a 2023 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Vital Signs report. Reframing burnout as an organizational, not an individual concern, is vital in preventing global healthcare collapse.
Healthcare workers worldwide face emotional exhaustion, burnout, anxiety, and depression like never before, with many on the brink of leaving their jobs due to overwhelming workloads, poor pay, and being undervalued.
If you are experiencing burnout, you may feel sad and no longer care about the things that matter to you, or you may experience an increasing sense of hopelessness. If it becomes too much to handle, it's critical to seek treatment and therapy with an experienced mental health expert without delay to collaborate on finding the best possible solutions for medical burnout and resilience training for doctors.
RESOURCES:
1. Catapano P, Cipolla S, Sampogna G, Perris F, Luciano M, Catapano F, Fiorillo A. Organizational and Individual Interventions for Managing Work-Related Stress in Healthcare Professionals: A Systematic Review. Medicina (Kaunas). 2023 Oct 20;59(10):1866. doi: 10.3390/medicina59101866. PMID: 37893584; PMCID: PMC10608642.
2. Aydin Guclu O, Karadag M, Akkoyunlu ME, Acican T, Sertogullarindan B, Kirbas G, Selimoglu Sen H, Lakadamyali H, Intepe YS, Arslan S, Firat Gursoy S, Kaya A. Association between burnout, anxiety and insomnia in healthcare workers: a cross-sectional study. Psychol Health Med. 2022 Jun;27(5):1117-1130. doi: 10.1080/13548506.2021.1874434. Epub 2021 Jan 25. PMID: 33486992.
3. Thapa DK, Levett-Jones T, West S, Cleary M. Burnout, compassion fatigue, and resilience among healthcare professionals. Nurs Health Sci. 2021 Sep;23(3):565-569. doi: 10.1111/nhs.12843. Epub 2021 May 13. PMID: 33860606.
4. Bridgeman PJ, Bridgeman MB, Barone J. Burnout syndrome among healthcare professionals. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2018 Feb 1;75(3):147-152. doi: 10.2146/ajhp170460. Epub 2017 Nov 28. PMID: 29183877.
Written by:
Dr. Sana Abdul Samad, M.B.B.S,
On January 20, 2025
