Work burnout and organisational commitment of medical professionals

Abstract

While psychological, emotional, and physical exhaustion has contributed to unproductivity across various dimensions of work life, how work burnout has shaped the organisational commitment of medical professionals who are at the forefront of health and well-being remains underexplored and less understood. This study offers new and insightful perspectives on work burnout and variations in the commitment of medical professionals in Ogun State, Nigeria. This study evaluated the correlation and relative effect between work burnout, family commitment, and organisational commitment and optimal productivity using the product moment correlation and analysis of variance (ANOVA) estimation procedures. Items in the questionnaire were developed in line with the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey, organisational commitment questionnaire, family commitment inventory questionnaire, Work Productivity and Activity Impairment, Employment Absence and Productivity Scale, and employee performance questionnaire. Findings revealed that handling multiple tasks simultaneously, shortage of staff, inadequate facilities or equipment, poor appraisal, lack of recognition and autonomy, and work overload are the most prevalent stressors to medical professionals (medical laboratory scientists, nurses, pharmacists, and technicians). The result further revealed that the effects include fatigue, frequent headache, sleeplessness and the lingering cold, low motivation, anxiety, and decreased output, among other symptoms. This study suggests that work burnout and work–family conflict are positively associated with high productivity at work and increased organisational commitment. The gender dimensions of the result revealed that females experience more work burnout and work–family conflict than males. Thus, policies and management practices should be implemented to mitigate their effects in the health sector for efficient patient care.