Burnout and Quality of work life amongst Urology medical staff in South Africa – a nationwide survey

Abstract Background: Worldwide, doctors face many job challenges, predisposing them to burnout. Studies have shown that urologists are also vulnerable to burnout. Burnout's effects are dire and negatively affect patient outcomes. To our knowledge, there is no published data on various aspects of the quality of life of South African doctors. Objectives: To analyse the quality of work life and burnout amongst South African Urology medical staff. Methods: An anonymous online survey using the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Worker Well-Being Questionnaire evaluated the quality of work life and burnout among South African urologists. Results: 122 urology medical staff completed the survey, of which 101 complete responses were received. The survey response rate was 25.8%. Only 36% of the surveyed group would choose a career in medicine again. Of the 101 complete responses, 29.7% worked more than 80 hours weekly. Rates of burnout were found to be high at 58%, with many factors lowering the quality of work life, such as lack of job satisfaction, not having a mentor, workplace bullying, excessive stress and anxiety, depression, and insufficient opportunities for restorative personal time. The prevalence of depression was 11.9%. Conclusions: This study showed that burnout and poor quality of work life are prevalent among South African physicians working in urology practice. Addressing excessive workloads, improving mentorship quality, fostering a respectful and inclusive workplace culture, and expanding access to wellness initiatives are critical to enhancing physician well-being and improving healthcare delivery.