Occupational Burnout Among Healthcare Workers: Risk Factors, Consequences, and Prevention Strategies

Abstract Background: Occupational burnout among healthcare workers has become an increasingly prevalent problem worldwide, with significant consequences for individual well-being, quality of patient care, and the functioning of healthcare systems. According to the World Health Organization’s ICD-11 classification, burnout is defined as a syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed and is characterized by emotional exhaustion, mental distancing from work, and reduced professional efficacy. Healthcare professionals, particularly physicians and nurses, are consistently identified as groups at high risk of developing occupational burnout. Objective: The aim of this narrative review was to summarize current evidence on occupational burnout among healthcare workers and to discuss its epidemiology, key risk factors, consequences, and effective prevention strategies, with particular emphasis on multilevel interventions at the individual, organizational, and system levels. Methods: A narrative review of the literature was conducted using PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases. Peer-reviewed articles published in English were included, focusing on burnout prevalence, determinants, consequences, and preventive interventions among healthcare workers. Systematic reviews, meta-analyses, observational studies, and relevant clinical and organizational reports were analyzed to synthesize current knowledge on the topic. Results: The available evidence indicates a high and increasing prevalence of occupational burnout among healthcare workers globally, particularly in high-intensity clinical settings and during periods of increased system strain, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Burnout arises from a complex interaction of systemic, organizational, professional, and individual factors, including excessive workload, administrative burden, insufficient staffing, and limited psychosocial support. The consequences of burnout extend beyond individual mental health impairment to include increased medical errors, reduced job satisfaction, staff turnover, and decreased organizational efficiency. Multilevel prevention strategies, combining individual-focused interventions with organizational and system-level changes, appear to be more effective than approaches targeting individual resilience alone. Conclusions: Occupational burnout among healthcare workers represents a significant and growing challenge for modern healthcare systems. An evidence-based, comprehensive approach that addresses individual, organizational, and systemic determinants of burnout may improve healthcare workers’ well-being, enhance patient safety, and contribute to the long-term sustainability of healthcare delivery. Keywords: occupational burnout; healthcare workers; physicians; nurses; risk factors; prevention strategies