The question of burnout is very common in any professional, but more so with healthcare professionals who work in such stressful conditions. Healthcare professionals, not merely due to working long hours, but also due to the demand and utilization of physical and emotional energy during every hour of their work, often experience symptoms of burnout. Further, things got even more challenging for healthcare workers post the COVID-19 pandemic declaring an emergency affecting the physical as well as mental health of individuals globally.
Healthcare workers have a very demanding job, which is high risk and high reward and further face many challenges on a daily basis whether these are physicians and doctors, nurses, mental health professionals, emergency workers and frontline workers, healthcare rescue workers, medicare professionals or allied staff and professionals.
Healthcare worker burnout
Burnout among healthcare workers is a widespread issue, prevalent at a rate of 52% among healthcare professionals, and often burnout is marked by emotional exhaustion at a prevalence rate of 51%, depersonalization observed at a prevalence rate of 52% and lastly, a lack of personal accomplishment, observed at a prevalence rate of 28%.
Burnout prevalence rates by specialty group:
- Physician and/or nurse groups – 66%
- Frontline and non-frontline workers mixed – 55%
- Frontline emergency workers – 39%
- Mixed healthcare workers – 40%
- Physicians – 43%
- Urologists – 54%
- Neurologists – 50%
- Nephrologists – 49%
- Surgeons – 35%
- Psychiatrists – 35%
- Orthopedics – 34%
- Mental Health Professionals – 40%
High emotional exhaustion was observed in non-frontline healthcare workers at a prevalence rate of 68%, highest depersonalization was observed in Frontline healthcare workers at 57%, and highest lack of personal accomplishment was observed in both mixed healthcare workers and Frontline healthcare workers at a prevalence rate of 29%.
The effects of burnout on healthcare workers are detrimental to their physical and psychological health, often rendering them incapable of delivering their job duties and affecting their personal lives and relationships, on top of causing health issues. Suicide rates have also been on an increase generally but more so since COVID-19, and are healthcare workers are at 32% greater risk of suicide.
Some impacts and risk factors of healthcare burnout include:
- Risk of alcohol and substance abuse and dependence
- Suicidal thoughts and ideation
- Anxiety, panic attacks and anxiety disorders
- High levels of stress and headaches
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Depression
- Feelings of hopelessness and helplessness
- Insomnia, nightmares, sleep disturbances and disorders
- Isolation and social withdrawal
- Frustration and mood fluctuation
- Emotional dysregulation
- Difficulty in maintaining interpersonal relationships
- Decreased empathy
- Hypertension, fatigue and lower immune functioning
Causes of healthcare worker burnout
Healthcare workers often face a high work and patient load with many challenging cases throughout their day, which is just a regular day for them. Often, they could be dealing with death, risk of death, suicide, suffering and continuous exposure to these high stressors does not only raise a cause for concern but also makes it more important for this issue to be addressed. Such stressors can lead to emotional and physical burnout to such an extent that is reflected in a lower job performance and incapacity to deliver daily job duties.
A work-life imbalance, insufficient resources and inadequate care, emotional and social support as well as a high workload with long hours, constant exposure to life-threatening situations, poor management and inadequate staffing can and do often lead to healthcare worker burnout.
Measures to prevent and reduce healthcare worker burnout
On an individual and organizational level, many strategies can be used for preventing burnout in healthcare workers, some tips are given below:
Individual level:
- Engaging in physical activity and/or exercise regularly
- Balanced diet
- Physical relaxation
- Good and peaceful sleep practices
- Family and a good social support network
- Engaging in self-care activities
- Employing stress management techniques including breathing, relaxation and mindfulness techniques
- Adequate rest and time off when required
- A work-life balance
- Seeking counselling and therapy as and when required
- Joining support groups or peer groups
- Participating in stress management, communication and relaxation workshops
- Learn to recognize the signs of distress and burnout
- Prioritize the positive and joyous aspects of work, memories and connections
Organizational Level:
- Shift rotation with a pre-planned time off for each worker
- Management of workload and patients, clients in an even manner
- Providing greater and easier access to mental health facilities, professionals and social support
- Provide resilience training for healthcare workers
- Provide mindfulness and stress management workshops and techniques to all workers
- Promote open communication within healthcare teams and between staff and senior management
- Address any conflict issues and challenges brought to attention by the staff
- Promote a positive working environment
- Promote and encourage use of resources for mental health issues and challenges
- Provide appropriate care and support for substance abuse challenges
- Build and promote social connections and community exercises, group activities and excursions
- Combat racism, discrimination and biases to reduce barriers in mental health care access and promote positivity
- Invest and review healthcare policies and insurance policies to provide equal access and encourage use of mental health support
Burnout in healthcare workers is a serious concern and widespread issue that requires more awareness and attention so that it can be appropriately addressed. Burnout in healthcare workers doesn’t just impact their physical and psychological health, but also leads to a poorer quality of patient care and increased suicide rates among other detrimental consequences. Hence an increased need for providing care and support to prevent and reduce healthcare burnout is an essential need of the hour which can be achieved through a combination of individual, societal and organization level inputs and techniques to mitigate this crucial concern.
At North America Behavioral Health Services, we understand that burnout is a major issue with serious health complications, and we not only work to help our workers be better equipped to handle this, but also extend such support to other health workers.
