SA JOURNAL OF DIABETES & VASCULAR DISEASE
VOLUME 10 NUMBER 3 • SEPTEMBER 2013
103
Diabetes Educator’s Focus
BURNOUT: A CRITICAL PROBLEM
AMONG HEALTHCARE WORKERS
S Afr J Diabetes Vasc Dis
2013;
10
: 103–104
A
n online survey has revealed that 60%
of healthcare workers experience burn-
out, with 21% always or often feeling
burned out, according to an article published
earlier this year on the website, Health IT News.
1
Heavy patient loads, smaller staff complements
and higher stress levels are responsible, ac-
cording to the survey by the American recruiting
firm, CareerBuilder, which was conducted be-
tween 11 February and 6 March 2013. It involved
more than 500 US healthcare workers and more
than 240 employers.
Thirty-four per cent of healthcare worker respond-
ents plan to look for a new job in 2013, up from
24% in 2012. Nearly half (45%) plan to look for a
new job over the next two years. Eighty-two per cent
said that while they are not actively looking for a job,
they would be open to a new position if the right
opportunity came along.
Jason Lovelace, president of CareerBuilder Health-
care, said in a statement, ‘Long hours and juggling
multiple patient needs are taking their toll on mo-
rale and retention. The survey shows that healthcare
workers are seeking a more manageable work ex-
perience.’
WHAT INFLUENCES JOB SATISFACTION?
According to survey findings, there are four key
factors influencing job satisfaction and retention
(Table 1). The survey bears out the feelings of
Candace Plattor, a registered clinical counsellor
based in Vancouver, Canada.
‘Burnout among healthcare professionals has be-
come a common and critical problem. As a therapist
working in the healthcare system for over 20 years,
P Wagenaar
Gauteng correspondent
I have seen a great many of my colleagues suffer
from the various types of stress that can adversely
affect workers in this field. I have watched some
of them “burn out”, using up their paid sick leave,
taking stress leave, resorting to unhealthy coping
behaviours and sometimes leaving the profession
altogether. I have also seen others deal with their
stresses in healthier ways, choosing self-care strate-
gies such as seeking out personal counselling and
taking refreshing holidays.’
2
Plattor maintains that burnout is not inevitable,
though it is relatively common. In her opinion, the
key lies in the willingness to become self-aware and
make the changes necessary to remain holistically
healthy. She believes it is incumbent upon healers to
serve as guides and role models for their clients/pa-
tients. ‘As such, we must be doing our own personal
work in order to most effectively assist our clients to
do theirs’, she says.
Table 1.
Key factors impacting on job satisfaction
and retention.
• Pay: 75% of healthcare workers say they do not
earn their desired salary, with 29% saying not any-
where near it.
• Work–life balance: 18% of workers say they are
dissatisfied with their work–life balance; the high-
est percentage cites a workload that is too heavy
(44%), followed by their employer’s unwillingness
to provide flexible work schedules (21%).
• Career advancement: nearly a quarter (24%) of
healthcare workers is not satisfied with their career
progress. A lack of upward mobility is also one of
the top reasons for seeking alternative employ-
ment opportunities.
• Switching industries: nearly three in 10 (29%)
healthcare workers say they are currently trying to
acquire skills in a new industry or field. Of these,
54% are going back to study, 18% are volunteer-
ing and 7% are taking on temporary or contract
work.
