Burnout Syndrome among Healthcare Workers is Associated with Violence against Them. What Needs to Be Done?

Abstract

Background: Patients have seemingly become more aggressive against healthcare workers when seeking their demands during the SARS-CoV2 pandemic. Violence against healthcare workers is multifactorial and one that strongly associates with the burnout syndrome.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to draw a conclusion from the previously published literature about the association of violence against Health Care Workers (HCWs) and their burnout syndrome. And also, to find out other associated factors and possible solutions for this phenomenon.
Results: HCWs are subject to stressful situations and high pressure, alongside highly infectious diseases (SARS-CoV2), shortage of PPE, working for more than 24 hr, without payment or reward, difficulties at the workplace, and a poor workplace administration , which can all lead to what is known as a “burnout syndrome.” On the other hand, patients have high expectations of their needs. Their attendants’ (co-patients) are generally anxious about their patients’ medical fate. Also, patients or co-patients perceive a doctor as their only savior, and so any unexpected or unpleasant behavior
from the burnt-out HCWs can be counteracted by aggressiveness and violence.
Conclusion: Violence against HCWs is associated with burnout syndrome and vice versa. A real attempt should be made focusing on the radical  solution for the problem of burnout syndrome rather than enacting laws to punish the aggressors against HCWs.

Keywords: dehumanization, doctors’ abuse, Maslach theory, mental fatigue, SARSCoV2, workplace aggressiveness