Abstract:
Burnout syndrome is a psychological response to long-term exposure to occupational stressors. It is characterized by
emotional exhaustion, cognitive weariness and physical fatigue, and it may occur in association with any occupation, but
is most frequently observed among professionals who work directly with people, particularly in institutional settings.
Healthcare professionals who work directly with patients and are frequently exposed to work overload and excessive
clinical demands, to ethical dilemmas, to pressing occupational schedules and to managerial challenges; who have to make
complex judgements and difficult decisions; and who have relatively little autonomy over their job-related tasks are at risk
of developing clinical burnout. In turn, clinical burnout among clinicians has a negative impact on the quality and safety
of treatment, and on the overall professional performance of healthcare systems. Healthcare workers with burnout are
more likely to make mistakes and to be subjected to medical malpractice claims, than do those who are burnout-naïve.
Experiencing the emotional values of autonomy, competence and relatedness are essential work-related psychological
needs, which have to be satisfied to promote feelings of self-realization and meaningfulness in relation to work activities,
thus reducing burnout risk. Importantly, an autonomy-supportive rather than a controlling style of management decreases
burnout risk and promotes self-actualization, self-esteem and a general feeling of well-being in both those in charge and in
their subordinates. The purpose of this article is to discuss some of the elements constituting the burnout construct with the
view of gaining a better understanding of the complex multifactorial nature of burnout. This may facilitate the development
and implementation of both personal, behavioural and organizational interventions to deal with the burnout syndrome and
its ramifications.
