Stress and burnout syndrome in healthcare personnel: diagnosis and prevention strategies
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56294/saludcyt20262571Keywords:
Work stress, burnout, healthcare personnel, preventionAbstract
Introduction: burnout syndrome is a global occupational crisis that seriously affects the mental health of healthcare workers and the quality of medical care. The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified this phenomenon, highlighting the urgent need for effective diagnosis and prevention strategies.
Objective: to analyse the prevalence, risk factors, diagnostic tools, and intervention strategies for burnout syndrome in healthcare personnel, based on recent scientific evidence.
Method: a systematic review of the scientific literature (2019–2024) was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. International databases (PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, SciELO) were consulted, selecting 28 studies of high methodological quality that evaluated prevalence, risks, instrument validity, and the effectiveness of preventive interventions.
Results: the overall prevalence of burnout among healthcare workers was 39%, reaching up to 59.5 % among nurses during the pandemic. The main risk factors were workplace bullying (OR: 4.05–15.01), low job satisfaction (OR: 5.05) and high perceived stress (OR: 4.21). Among the diagnostic instruments, the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI) showed the best psychometric properties. Mindfulness-based and coaching interventions moderately reduced burnout (SMD: -0.44).
Conclusions: burnout is a multifactorial problem where organisational causes predominate. It is recommended to implement preventive institutional policies, strengthen workplace wellbeing and standardise diagnostic tools to improve the sustainability of the healthcare system.
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