It is quite common to come across the term professional burnout. This term is associated with a lack of job satisfaction, especially working with other people. Thus, doctors, nurses, medical staff, psychologists will be the most vulnerable to occupational burnout. They will be those professional groups whose work involves helping others, but after a certain period of time does not bring satisfaction and contentment, helplessness appears and an inability to fully engage in their work. Research describing this phenomenon shows that this is mainly due to the limitations of helping other people, but also to an inability to cope with the stresses that are inherent in working with patients (e.g. stress).
The work of doctors and other medical staff is saturated with stress factors. Too many patients, excessive paperwork, low pay, inadequate appreciation of the work (its prestige) in relation to its demands. All these give rise to problems that doctors have to deal with on a daily basis. Very often, working with patients, especially the mentally ill, causes professional stress and, given the lack of remedial competences, can foster the emergence of professional burnout syndrome, which has a negative impact on the process of patient treatment, leading to indifference towards the problems experienced by patients.
So what is professional burnout syndrome?
The symptoms of burnout syndrome can relate to emotional, motivational, cognitive and physical aspects of a person's life. The syndrome is mainly characterised by exhaustion accompanied by mental and physical discomfort. There is a sense of reduced activity and effectiveness at work, self-esteem is lowered and motivation to work is reduced. Burnout syndrome is a process that arises as a result of failure to cope with the stresses that occur at work. The termburnoutwas first described by Freudenberger (1974). He emphasised the negative consequences of disturbed mental and physical state for professional and private life. Other researchers of this phenomenon - Emner (1982) described negative feelings about work.
According to American burnout syndrome researcher Christi Maluch, burnout is a process that develops over a period of time and the symptoms are as follows:
- Reduced motivation to work, lack of satisfaction with work from which one previously enjoyed
- Reduced motivation to act
- Loss of concern for the people for whom one works
- Distancing oneself from patients and experiencing negative emotions towards patients
- Transfer of professional matters to private territory
- Increased distance from colleagues
- Feelings of tension, dissatisfaction and frustration
- Health problems.
photo: panthermedia
Professional burnout syndrome consists of:
- Emotional exhaustion - exhaustion, irritability, discouragement
- Depersonalisation
- Lowering of self-esteem, lowering of skills
- Perception of lack of help and support from others
The basis on which burnout syndrome develops is emotional exhaustion, which manifests itself in a lack of job satisfaction despite achievements and professional plans. Psychological crisis can be compounded by health problems. Health problems offer the opportunity to isolate oneself for a short period of time from day-to-day responsibilities through sick leave, but upon return, changes in attitude towards patients and other colleagues are still observed. Relationships change to become more distanced and impersonal.
