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Chapter 1 - The Psychology of Burnout

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 July 2022

John E. Kello  and
Joseph A. Allen
John E. Kello
Affiliation:
Davidson College, North Carolina
Joseph A. Allen
Affiliation:
University of Utah
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Summary

Burnout is a specific work-related syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. Sufferers experience physical and mental exhaustion, cynicism and a sense of depersonalization, and reduced feelings of efficacy; these are the defining facets of burnout. The syndrome shows itself in a variety of dysfunctional emotions, thought processes, and behaviors. The primary culprit is stress. While the “natural” response to a stressor (the fight-or-flight reaction) is adaptive in the short term, prolonged activation of that response can eventually result in burnout. Research over the last several decades has highlighted the risk for physicians and other healthcare providers, and recent studies have shown that the risk has been dramatically enhanced during the coronavirus pandemic. This book will explore the syndrome in detail, the specific risks that healthcare providers incur, and the relation between burnout and medical error. As our ultimate goal is to provide support for those healthcare workers and those affected by their work, we explore a range of critical approaches to reducing burnout (our proposed evidence-based “solutions”).

Keywords

burnoutphysicianmedical professionalsEHR
Type
Chapter
Information
The Burned Out Physician
Managing the Stress and Reducing the Errors
 , pp. 1 - 27
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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