Opinion Article Physician burnout: Root causes, effects, and solutions

Abstract

Physician burnout is a phenomenon used to describe the work-related syndrome, which encompasses emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, cynical disillusion, and a low sense of personal accomplishment. Rates of physician burnout are exponentially increasing globally but sadly underreported, resulting in reduced attention to it. This issue represents a public health crisis.

For physicians to offer the best care to patients, they must be at their best state in terms of physical and mental energy levels for them to function effectively; if any of these are affected, it could result in poor patient outcomes. Highlighting these factors that could result in burnout and proffering solutions would go a long way in improving patient care.