The emotional burning out in physicians: stress factors and measures of their elimination (the publications review)

The medical practice is associated with high levels of stress. The permanent psychic tension experienced by physicians can result in psychological disorders and emotional burning out that seriously affects their personal well-being, career prospects, relationships, and compromises quality of medical care. According to opinion of major health organizations, burning out in physicians is public health crisis that is to be counteracted. This call to action is especially actual considering that burning out is reversible and preventable.The purpose of the article is to review international studies examining work-related factors that result in professional burning out of physicians and to identify practical measures educing stress levels and improving mental health of medical workers.The results demonstrated that factors causing professional burning out of physicians include excessive workload, industrial hazards, red tape, conflicting relationships, etc. It was demonstrated that organizational and individual measures can potentially reduce the level of professional burning out and prevent its occurrence. The administrative measures are to be targeted to improvement of work environment, decreasing of work requirements, ensuring safety and sufficient rest, establishing communication between members of medical teams, etc. Among the measures at the individual level, supportive mentoring, group and individual coaching, awareness practices, cognitive behavioral therapy, stress resistance and self-confidence training can be recommended.