Year: 2023 | Month: October | Volume: 13 | Issue: 10 | Pages: 74-82
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20231010
Burnout in Hematologists: A Comprehensive Literature Review
Adela Perolla1, Elsuarta Çalliku2
1,2Department of Internal Medicine, Service of Hematology, University Hospital Centre “Mother Teresa”,
Tirana, Albania
Corresponding Author: Adela Perolla
ABSTRACT
Burnout is a pervasive concern in the medical profession, characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment. Hematologists, who specialize in diagnosing, treating, and preventing blood diseases, are also susceptible to this psychological syndrome. This literature review synthesizes the current research on the prevalence, causes, consequences, and potential interventions for burnout in hematologists. Studies have reported a significant prevalence of burnout among hematologists and oncologists, with factors such as workload, work-home conflict, lack of supervisory support, and insufficient recovery opportunities contributing to this issue. The consequences of burnout are far-reaching, impacting the quality of patient care, increasing medical errors, and leading to physician attrition. In extreme cases, burnout has been associated with an increased risk of suicide among physicians. Effective interventions for reducing burnout include organizational strategies, such as workflow redesign and communication skills training, as well as individual-focused approaches, such as mindfulness-based stress reduction and cognitive-behavioural training. The review emphasizes the need for further research and targeted interventions to address the unique challenges hematologists face in their practice to ensure their well-being and maintain the highest quality of patient care.
Key words: burnout, hematologists, prevalence, causes, consequences, interventions, emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, personal accomplishment, work-life balance, job satisfaction, patient care, mental health, organizational interventions, stress management.