Prevalence and Factors Associated with Burnout among Healthcare Professionals in India: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: With increasing workload and dismal working conditions, healthcare professionals (HCPs) in India often suffer from burnout. Understanding the extent of these problems and the contributing factors is necessary to build a healthy workforce capable of serving the society. The purpose of this study was to systematically review and analyze: 1) the prevalence of burnout among HCPs in India and 2) the factors associated with burnout in this population. Methods: A systematic search of MEDLINE and EMBASE, from the inception of these databases to October 2019, was conducted using keywords. The search results were screened to identify studies evaluating burnout among HCPs in India using a standard burnout tool. Using a random effect model, the pooled prevalence of burnout was estimated using Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) in three domains: emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and personal accomplishment (PA). Risk factors for burnout were assessed qualitatively. Results: A total of 15 studies assessing burnout in 3845 Indian HCPs were identified. The pooled prevalence of burnout was 24% in the EE domain, 27% in the DP domain, and 23% in the PA domain. Younger age, female gender, unmarried status, and difficult working conditions were associated with increased risk of burnout. Conclusion: Burnout is highly prevalent among Indian HCPs, with close to one-fourth of them suffering from burnout. A number of personal and professional factors are associated with burnout, and these should be considered while developing solutions to tackle burnout.