Physician burnout: Quo vadimus?

Abstract

Burnout is a syndrome of emotional exhaustion, loss of meaning at work, feeling of ineffectiveness, and a tendency to view people as objects rather than as a human being. Physician burnout leads to dissatisfaction at work and suboptimal patient care. Various causes of burnout at the individual, work environment, and health system levels have been identified. In this review, we initially focus on the burden of burnout. Subsequently, we describe the determinants of this problem in India and the West, while drawing on relevant literature. Finally, we provide evidence based practical suggestions to deal with physician burnout. Strategies suggested to deal with burnout need to be implemented based on locally available resources. Repeated assessment of burnout constructs using validated questionnaires can evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention. Hospitals, educational institutions, and physician societies need to collaborate with practicing physicians to address burnout and invest in physician well-being to continue providing high-quality medical care in the future.