Prevalence and Correlates of Burnout and Mental Distress among Healthcare Professionals of a Public Sector Hospital in Lahore: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: Healthcare worker burnout and mental distress represent significant challenges to healthcare delivery systems worldwide, particularly in resource-limited settings. In Pakistan, where healthcare workers face unique challenges including high patient volumes and resource constraints, understanding these issues is crucial. Taking into consideration the serious implications of burnout and mental distress on the well-being of healthcare providers and the quality of patient care, and the limited evidence from healthcare settings in Pakistan, this study addresses a critical knowledge gap in understanding occupational mental health among healthcare workers in developing healthcare systems. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of mental distress and burnout among healthcare professionals of a public sector hospital in Lahore and to investigate their associations with demographic characteristics. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at a public sector hospital in Lahore, from February to September, 2024. Using an expected prevalence of 71.9% (95% CI: 66.3-77.5%), and absolute precision of 5.6%, a sample size of 250 was calculated. Data were collected through printed forms containing validated instruments including the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12). The MBI assessed three dimensions: emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and personal accomplishment (PA), while GHQ-12 measured psychological distress. High burnout was defined as high scores in EE (≥30) or DP (≥12) or low PA scores (≤33). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27, employing descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and logistic regression analysis (p<0.05). Results: Among the 250 participants, predominantly female (75.6%) and aged 20-30 years (92.0%), 70% scored for high burnout in at least one subscale, while 9.2% reported high burnout in all three subscales of MBI. Mental distress was prevalent, with 8.8% (95% CI: 5.3-12.3%) reporting high levels. A statistically significant association between any Burnout and High Mental Distress was found (p=0.001). Healthcare roles significantly influenced mental distress levels (p<0.001), with physicians reporting higher rates of severe burnout (14.6%) compared to nurses (4.8%). Conclusion: The high prevalence of burnout (70%) among healthcare professionals in this public hospital setting in Pakistan highlights an urgent need for intervention. We recommend implementing systematic changes including: (1) structured workload management programs, (2) profession-specific mental health support services, and (3) regular burnout screening and monitoring protocols. These findings have important implications for healthcare policy in developing countries and suggest the need for institutional-level interventions to protect healthcare worker wellbeing and ensure optimal patient care.