Burnout syndrome among healthcare professionals

The well-being of healthcare providers and the influence of healthcare provider mental health and wellness on patient safety have garnered national interest and attention, though the concept of burnout among healthcare professionals is not new.1,2 Healthcare, as an industry, places numerous pressures on healthcare providers, including the challenges of clinical work, time constraints, competing demands, lack of control over work processes and scheduling, and conflicting roles and relationships with leadership.2 Burnout syndrome is increasingly recognized among healthcare professionals, with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality estimating that burnout may affect 10–70% of nurses and 30–50% of physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants.2 Pharmacists’ job satisfaction may vary according to practice setting, with community pharmacists likely experiencing lower job satisfaction and, consequently, higher rates of burnout, compared with pharmacists practicing in other settings.3,4 Results of the 2016 Pharmacist Salary Survey, which examined the views of 3,085 pharmacists practicing in a variety of settings across the United States, revealed that 72.5% of pharmacists are satisfied with their jobs, with 63.4% of respondents reporting increased job stress over the previous year.5