Assessment of Burnout among Healthcare Practitioners in India: A Survey-based Nationwide Study

Healthcare practitioners (HCPs) face high stress levels at work due to the demanding nature of their profession, making them more susceptible to burnout. The objective of the study is to assess the prevalence of burnout among HCPs in India and to examine its relationship with age, gender, and working hours.

A descriptive cross-sectional, pan India study was conducted from October 6 to 26, 2022. A total of 763 Indian HCPs participated in the study. The prevalence of burnout among HCPs was assessed using the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI). The CBI is a validated instrument that measures three dimensions of burnout: personal, work-related, and patient-related burnout. Data collected from the survey responses were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 18. Descriptive statistics were calculated to summarize the participants' demographic characteristics and burnout levels, including means, standard deviations (SD), frequencies, and percentages. A Chi-squared test was employed to examine associations and predictors of burnout among Indian HCPs.

Out of the 763 HCPs, 577 (76%) were males and 186 (24%) were females. The average age of the HCPs was 43.4 years. The prevalence of personal, work-related, and patient-related burnout was 47, 31, and 35%, respectively, with 24.9% experiencing all three types of burnout. Burnout was more common among female and younger practitioners. HCPs who spent longer hours a day treating patients and those with night duties and night calls reported higher burnout levels. A larger proportion of smokers reported work-related burnout. Regular exercise of at least 45 minutes and 6 hours of sleep was associated with lower burnout levels. Additionally, HCPs with anxiety as a medical condition were more likely to experience all three types of burnout.

This study reveals a significant prevalence of burnout among HCPs, with approximately 25% experiencing all three types of burnout. This raises concern, as burnout can have negative implications for the healthcare system. Further research is necessary to understand the impact of physician burnout on healthcare delivery and outcomes.