Abstract
BackgroundPalliative care is in dire necessity than ever before due to aging populations and the prevalence of cancer and other chronic diseases associated with aging.ObjectiveTo assess the prevalence and risk factors associated with burnout among palliative care clinicians in Saudi Arabia.MethodsA cross-sectional study conducted in 2018 covering all palliative care centers of Saudi Arabia and included 44 palliative care physicians (26 males and 18 females). The level of burnout was measured using Maslach Burnout Inventory's (MBI) 22 point scale questionnaire which assesses emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment, the three dimensions of burnout syndrome. Pearson correlation and binary logistic analysis were performed using SPSS to find out factors influencing burnout considering P-value of <0.05 as significant.ResultsEight participants (18.2%) had experienced emotional exhaustion and 11 (25%) had experienced depersonalization and detachment, and reduced personal accomplishment, each. Job title and availability of some administrative departments, supporting health care staff, and pain relief medications have shown significant impact of level of burnout. However, the prevalence of the burnout dimensions did not differ significantly according to the palliative care physicians' other characteristics.ConclusionsThis is amongst the first survey to assess the prevalence of burnout among palliative care physicians in Saudi Arabia. Although, some variables have shown significantly high level in the burnout domains, yet, the overall prevalence of burnout is low among palliative care physicians in Saudi Arabia. The availability of hospitals services such as administrative departments, supporting health care staff, and pain relief drugs have shown significant impact on burnout.
Highlights
As life expectancy is progressively increasing with advances in medical care, the need for palliative care is growing along with the number of patients with incurable and advanced diseases [1].Hospital-based palliative care provides in a multidisciplinary setup professional physical, psychological, spiritual, and environmental holistic care for patients and their family members aimed at ensuring “death with dignity” [2].Burnout Among Palliative Care CliniciansThe rising need for palliative care is frequently associated with stressful and demanding challenges for health workers
The study population comprised of all palliative care physicians working in Saudi Arabia was (N = 51) [13]
Almost half the participants (45.5%) were affiliated with the Ministry of Health, while 31.8% were affiliated with the Ministry of National Guard, 11.4% were associated with the Ministry of Defense, and 6.8% were in the private sector
Summary
As life expectancy is progressively increasing with advances in medical care, the need for palliative care is growing along with the number of patients with incurable and advanced diseases [1].Hospital-based palliative care provides in a multidisciplinary setup professional physical, psychological, spiritual, and environmental holistic care for patients and their family members aimed at ensuring “death with dignity” [2].Burnout Among Palliative Care CliniciansThe rising need for palliative care is frequently associated with stressful and demanding challenges for health workers. As life expectancy is progressively increasing with advances in medical care, the need for palliative care is growing along with the number of patients with incurable and advanced diseases [1]. Hospital-based palliative care provides in a multidisciplinary setup professional physical, psychological, spiritual, and environmental holistic care for patients and their family members aimed at ensuring “death with dignity” [2]. Their work entails making difficult ethical decisions and daily encountering patients’ distress, dying, and death, which may cause physical, psychological, or workrelated stress. If these stressors are not identified and managed on time, palliative care team members may be at risk of burnout [4]. Palliative care is in dire necessity than ever before due to aging populations and the prevalence of cancer and other chronic diseases associated with aging
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