Exploration of burnout among Healthcare Professionals in Gulf regions during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review.

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to identify and understand the key factors that influence the likelihood of professional burnout in healthcare workers (HCWs) in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding these factors will help policy makers and institutional management develop and implement strategies that will protect and support HCWs, and thus develop a more flexible and robust healthcare system. Method: HCWs’ views on, and experiences of, burnout, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, were examined. This was achieved through a systematic review and narrative synthesis of relevant qualitative studies published between 2020 and 2023. The studies were identified through a comprehensive search of three major databases (Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINHAL), and were evaluated using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP). Results: The results of the study suggested that the causes of burnout (stressors) can be categorised under four main themes: (a) workload and role expansion, (b) fear of infection, (c) lack of administrative support, and (d) inadequacy of personal protective equipment. These, either collectively or individually, led to psychological and emotional effects, resulting in burnout. The study also found that these stressors did not affect all HCWs equally: their impact depended on the personal and professional profile of individual HCWs. HCWs appeared to exhibit a sense of professionalism, and an ability to adapt and grow professionally, through a range of coping mechanisms. Discussion: The results of the review are examined in the light of the research questions, and the case is made for improving pandemic preparedness through the implementation of context-specific strategies which take account of the identified stressors, and which include coping mechanisms. Conclusion: While the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in increased stress among HCWs across the GCC regions, burnout appeared to be highly influenced by individual context, such as age, experience and role. The factors identified, and their context dependency, should be considered in developing context-specific strategies to support healthcare workers' wellbeing and resilience during crisis conditions.