Addressing physician burnout mental health strategies

Abstract

Burnout is a state of total exhaustion which is commonly experienced by physicians due to the intense work environment in which they find themselves working in. The causes and effects of burnout will be tackled in this career-related piece, addressing symptoms in which stress and exhaustion can manifest themselves. The symptoms are also taken from a neurobiological perspective, observing how burnout affects different parts of the brain, hence resulting in both physical and emotional distress. The causes of burnout are not only related to the medical aspect of healthcare, but it also involves the legal area of a physician's profession, which may include organisation of health records for instance. The effects on both doctors and patients will be tackled, including issues which the healthcare organisation faces on a daily basis due to the high burnout levels constantly being experienced by physicians. This piece compares the overall performance between a burnt out and a not burnt out doctor, highlighting the importance of being in a mentally fit state when working in such a profession. The latter is crucial so as to ensure that patients' trust is enhanced, and medical errors are prevented. Finally, strategies which aid in preventing and ultimately improving physician burnout will be discussed, so that they may be implemented within healthcare organisations.