Physician Burnout in Southeast Asia: A Scoping Review of Contributing Factors
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63719/johm.v23i1.219Keywords:
Physician burnout, Southeast Asia, healthcare workforce, contributing factors, prevalence, stress, burnoutAbstract
Background: The growing phenomenon of physician burnout continues to be a global concern, especially within Southeast Asia, due to the existing healthcare system problems that intensify the negative impact of work stress. Research about burnout in this geographic area shows declining rates despite rising general recognition. This review aimed to determine the prevalence of physician burnout while examining the associated factors that contribute to it in Southeast Asian countries.
Methods: The research procedures were in line with the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Scoping Review guidelines and PRISMA for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) framework. The literatures were accessed through PubMed, Wiley Library, and ScienceDirect through Boolean search terms which investigated physician burnout along with its related factors in Southeast Asia. The available studies were reviewed through pre-established rules for inclusion selection, along with rules to exclude particular research. The data were collected and focused on the prevalence and burnout risk factors that appeared throughout the studies.
Results: The research included 13 relevant studies. Research findings indicated wide variations in burnout rates from 12.3% to 63.5% according to the selected measurement tools and geographical locations. The most utilised scale to measure burnout was the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), while researchers also employed the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory and the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory. Healthcare workers who spent more than 50 hours weekly in their job, together with heavy patient caseloads, faced the highest risk of burnout during their initial years of practice, as well as due to inadequate mental care support from their employers and job security concerns.
Conclusion: Various measurement strategies and assessment frameworks explain the wide range of physician burnout results in Southeast Asian countries. A comprehensive intervention programme for addressing burnout must combine workload balancing with mental health assistance, along with career development initiatives. Future research needs to conduct longitudinal studies with intervention-based approaches to identify and create specific evidence-based responses for healthcare challenges that impact Southeast Asia.
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