Burnout and wellbeing

Original Editor - Habibu salisu Badamasi

Top Contributors - Habibu Salisu Badamasi and Vidya Acharya  

Introduction[edit | edit source]

According to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Classification of Diseases (ICD), people experiencing burn-out typically feel exhaustion, but are also likely to feel detached or cynical about their job. They often perform less well at work, putting their patients at risk. [1]

Burnout is included in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) as an occupational phenomenon. It is not classified as a medical condition. “Burnout is a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.” [2]Burnout is a factor that can affect the well-being of individuals; described as exhaustion and overload syndrome. Burnout syndrome is mainly work-related and occurs very often after a long period of high workload in a combination of perceived stressful working conditions.[3]

Causes of Burnout[edit | edit source]

Many perceived work-related causes of burnout includes [4]

  • Work overload.
  • unrealistic expectations.
  • lack of recognition from management and client demands.
  • Several of the perceived causes of burnout are related to management and leadership within the workplace.
  • Other factors, such as financial and marital issues, and care giving for family members, were also perceived as causes of burnout.

Symptoms of Burnout[edit | edit source]

The three symptoms included in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Classification of Diseases (ICD):

  1. The feeling of energy depletion or exhaustion.
  2. Increased mental distance from one’s job or feel negative towards one’s career
  3. Reduced professional productivity


Treatment of Burnout[edit | edit source]

The general treatment of burnout is aimed at mitigating the personal or environmental causes of the syndrome like developing coping skills or creating organizational changes at work. Which includes three parts:

  1. General strengthening
  2. Relaxation
  3. Occupational support

Inform of decreasing job demands, increasing job control or the level of participation in decision making.[3]

Management of Burnout[edit | edit source]

  • Get some exercises: Regular physical activity can help you to better deal with stress. It can also take your mind off work. -Aerobic exercise including low intensity running, group indoor cycling, running by using a treadmill, staircase climbing.strengthening exercise.[3]
  • Evaluate your options. Discuss specific concerns with your supervisor. Maybe you can work together to change expectations or reach compromises or solutions. Try to set goals for what must get done and what can wait.
  • Seek support. Whether you reach out to co-workers, friends or loved ones, support and collaboration might help you cope. If you have access to an employee assistance program, take advantage of relevant services.
  • Try a relaxing activity. Explore programs that can help with stress such as yoga, meditation or tai chi.
  • Get some sleep. Sleep restores well-being and helps protect your health.
  • Mindfulness. Mindfulness is the act of focusing on your breath flow and being intensely aware of what you're sensing and feeling at every moment, without interpretation or judgment. In a job setting, this practice involves facing situations with openness and patience, and without judgment.

Outcome Measure[edit | edit source]

The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) has been widely used and extensively validated for quantifying burnout. The MBI-HSS is used for those weo are employed in occupations involving significant human contact, such as those in the healthcare sector. The MBI-HSS consists of three subscales: emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and personal achievement (PA). Each subscale is scored individually; the subscales are not combined into an aggregate score. Established “low,” “average,” and “high” degrees of burnout cut scores were employed to interpret the results of this data.[4]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Lynn E. Health workforce Burnout. Bulletin of the World Health Organization2019;97:585-586. Available from: doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.2471/BLT.19.020919
  2. Burn-out an "occupational phenomenon": International Classification of Diseases. World Health Organization [internet]. 28 May 2019. [cited11 April 2021]. Available from https://www.who.int/news/item/28-05-2019-burn-out-an-occupational-phenomenon-international-classification-of-diseases
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Ochentel O, Humphrey C, Pfeifer K. Efficacy of exercise therapy in persons with burnout. A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of sports science & medicine. 2018 Sep;17(3):475.
  4. 4.0 4.1 physiotherapy Alberta .“ Burnout Among Alberta Physiotherapists”. Accessed from: https://www.physiotherapyalberta.ca/files/burnout_white_paper.pdf  [ Accessed 11th April 2021].