Belgian hospital doctors risk burnout

Five percent of doctors working in hospital across Belgium suffer from a burnout, while an additional 18% are at serious risk of having one. That is the alarming conclusion of a survey commissioned by the federal public health ministry. The data will be used to develop a policy that deals with and prevents burnout.

For the survey, nearly 1,200 doctors in 37 Belgian hospitals were questioned. The defining factors for a burnout are the work pressure, emotional exhaustion and conflicts in roles and responsibilities. Consequences of these job pressures included an increase in the use of medication use and absenteeism. Doctors and nurses are also less willing or able to work until the retirement age of 65. On the positive side, 60% of the surveyed professionals say they are very passionate about their jobs.