Job Stress, Burnout and Healthcare Utilization: Evidence from a Systematic Literature Review and Implications for...

Job stress has become an increasing public health concern worldwide, affecting a substantial proportion of the workforce and contributing to significant morbidity. Although extensive evidence has documented its adverse health effects, much less is known about how occupational stress translates into healthcare utilization, which is essential for assessing its economic burden on healthcare systems and informing public policy.

To our knowledge, this study provides the first systematic review of empirical evidence linking job stress and burnout to healthcare utilization.

Following PRISMA guidelines, 533 articles published between January 1990 and February 2026 were identified in MEDLINE, Web of Science and SciELO databases and screened. After applying the eligibility criteria, based on peer-reviewed articles published in English or Spanish examining healthcare utilization among employed individuals exposed to job stress or burnout, 18 studies were included, highlighting the limited empirical evidence currently available.

All studies were conducted in high-income countries; 72% used cross-sectional designs, and job stress was most frequently measured using Karasek's demand-control model (56%). The findings suggest a consistent positive association between occupational stress and healthcare utilization, particularly medication use. Sixteen studies examined medication use, most reporting statistically significant associations with increased consumption of psychotropic drugs. In contrast, only two studies analyzed other forms of healthcare utilization, such as inpatient care or primary care consultations.

Overall, the evidence suggests that adverse psychosocial working conditions may contribute to increased demand for healthcare resources, although important gaps remain regarding the broader healthcare consequences. This study proposes a research agenda to better assess and quantify its healthcare burden. Understanding this relationship is essential for designing workplace policies aimed at reducing occupational stress and improving the efficiency and sustainability of healthcare systems.