The Burnout Syndrome and its Intervention Strategies for Physicians

Abstract

Studies on physician burnout showed that physicians are vulnerable to burnout. The consequences of physician burnout include ineffective quality of care of patients and it can also lead to poor physical and mental health of affected physicians. The resultant poor physical and mental health of the burnout physician is likely to bring about economic loss to his organisation in terms of absenteeism, reduced effectiveness, productivity and early retirement which may probably translate to reduced patients' satisfaction and quality of care. Despite its detrimental effects on physicians, burnout remains unrecognised in Nigerian physicians. The aim of this paper was to illustrate that physicians regularly encounter burnout, identify possible aetiologies of burnout in physicians and also suggested different psychological interventions for management of physician burnout. Keywords: Burnout, Intervention, Physicians, Nigeria