PHYSICIAN HEALTH: BURNOUT SYNDROME AND OCCUPATIONAL DEPRESSION AMONG DOCTORS – PREVENTIVE APPROACHES
Keywords:
Physician health, burnout syndrome, occupational depression, stress management, preventive approaches, resilience, healthcare professionalsAbstract
Physician health is a crucial determinant of the quality of medical care and patient safety. In recent years, burnout syndrome and occupational depression have emerged as serious threats to the well-being of doctors across the globe. Burnout, characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced professional efficacy, not only affects physicians’ mental and physical health but also compromises healthcare systems as a whole. Similarly, occupational depression reduces motivation, impairs clinical decision-making, and increases the risk of medical errors. Modern preventive approaches emphasize early identification of risk factors, workplace interventions, and the promotion of resilience among healthcare professionals. Organizational strategies such as workload management, improved working conditions, peer support programs, and the integration of mental health services within medical institutions have shown promising results. In addition, individual strategies including mindfulness training, stress management techniques, and work–life balance promotion are essential for preventing burnout and depression in physicians. This paper explores the causes, clinical manifestations, and preventive strategies addressing burnout syndrome and occupational depression among doctors.
References
1. Maslach C, Jackson SE, Leiter MP. Maslach Burnout Inventory Manual. 4th ed. Menlo Park, CA: Mind Garden; 2018.
2. Shanafelt TD, Noseworthy JH. Executive leadership and physician well-being: nine organizational strategies to promote engagement and reduce burnout. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2017;92(1):129–146.
3. West CP, Dyrbye LN, Shanafelt TD. Physician burnout: contributors, consequences, and solutions. Journal of Internal Medicine. 2018;283(6):516–529.
4. Rotenstein LS, Torre M, Ramos MA, et al. Prevalence of burnout among physicians: a systematic review. JAMA. 2018;320(11):1131–1150.
5. WHO. Mental health and psychosocial well-being of health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. World Health Organization; 2021.
6. Patel RS, Bachu R, Adikey A, Malik M, Shah M. Factors related to physician burnout and its consequences: a review. Behavioral Sciences. 2018;8(11):98.
7. Panagioti M, Geraghty K, Johnson J, et al. Association between physician burnout and patient safety, professionalism, and patient satisfaction: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Internal Medicine. 2018;178(10):1317–1330.
