Influence of Burnout on Patient Safety: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Several factors can compromise patient safety, such as ineffective teamwork, failed organizational processes, and the physical and psychological overload of health professionals. Studies about associations between burn out and patient safety have shown different outcomes. Objective: To analyze the relationship between burnout and patient safety. Materials and Methods: A systematic review with a meta-analysis performed using PubMed and Web of Science databases during January 2018. Two searches were conducted with the following descriptors: (i) patient safety AND burnout professional safety AND organizational culture, and (ii) patient safety AND burnout professional safety AND safety management. Results: Twenty-one studies were analyzed, most of them demonstrating an association between the existence of burnout and the worsening of patient safety. High levels of burnout is more common among physicians and nurses, and it is associated with external factors such as: high workload, long journeys, and ineffective interpersonal relationships. Good patient safety practices are influenced by organized workflows that generate autonomy for health professionals. Through meta-analysis, we found a relationship between the development of burnout and patient safety actions with a probability of superiority of 66.4%. Conclusion: There is a relationship between high levels of burnout and worsening patient safety.

Predictors of patient‐centered care provision among nurses in acute care setting

“…Experiencing burnout may prevent nurses from showing empathy, engaging patients in their treatment plan, considering patients' beliefs and values and delivering holistic care. This finding is in conjunction with that of other studies that burnout decreases nursing quality of care (Salyers et al, 2017), patient safety (Garcia et al, 2019) and work effort and patient satisfaction (Dyrbye et al, 2017). Since burnout hinders nurses' ability to deliver patient-centred care, programmes that minimize stressors and manage nurses' burnout are needed.…”

Effectiveness of Lifestyle Health Promotion Interventions for Nurses: A Systematic Review

“…Nurses are four times more likely to exhibit presenteeism compared to other occupations [29], with presenteeism costing twice as much as sickness absenteeism [30]. Nurses' ill-health impacts on productivity [31], care quality [31,32], absenteeism and turnover [33], continuity of care [34] and patient safety (e.g., through increased patient falls, medication errors and staff-to-patient disease transmission) [29,35,36]. Links have been made between unhealthy lifestyle behaviours, stress, work engagement and job satisfaction [37][38][39][40].…”

NCSBN’s Environmental Scan A Portrait of Nursing and Healthcare in 2020 and Beyond

“…More than half of physicians and nurses (although varying by healthcare setting) experience symptoms of healthcare provider burnout, a syndrome "characterized by a high degree of emotional exhaustion and high depersonalization (i.e., cynicism), and a low sense of personal accomplishment from work" (Dyrbye et al, 2017, p. 1). A recent systematic review and meta-analysis revealed an association of more than 60% between burnout and patient safety permeating the work process, personal characteristics, and teamwork (Garcia et al, 2019). Factors influencing burnout included teamwork climate, work environment, workload, professional tiredness, workplace safety, job satisfaction, and personal and professional life imbalance (Garcia et al, 2019).…”

“…A recent systematic review and meta-analysis revealed an association of more than 60% between burnout and patient safety permeating the work process, personal characteristics, and teamwork (Garcia et al, 2019). Factors influencing burnout included teamwork climate, work environment, workload, professional tiredness, workplace safety, job satisfaction, and personal and professional life imbalance (Garcia et al, 2019). Importantly, this review also noted that a positive safety culture, which includes open communication, management support, professional suitability, mutual learning, teamwork, good interpersonal relationships, and organizational workflow improvements, prevents professional fatigue (Garcia et al, 2019).…”