Burnout and Suicidal Ideation among Gynecology and Emergency Medical Professionals: A Cross-Sectional Study in Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Burnout is an important concern among healthcare workers, specifically those in gynecology and emergency departments. However, little is known about burnout syndrome and suicidal ideation among healthcare workers in Pakistan. This aim of this study was to investigate burnout and suicidal ideation among medical professionals working in gynecology and emergency departments in Pakistan. Methods: This cross-sectional study on 300 medical professionals working in gynecology and emergency departments was conducted at five tertiary care hospitals in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Healthcare workers were invited to complete study questionnaires including demographics, Maslach Burnout Inventory, and Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale. We performed descriptive statistics along with an Independent Sample T-Test, Multiple Regression, and Chi-Square test. Results: The results indicated that 32.3% of the participants expressed significant emotional exhaustion, 38.7% experienced a high level of depersonalization, and 78.3% felt a low sense of personal accomplishment. In addition, 13.7% of the participants were identified as having a high risk for suicidal thoughts. The subscales of burnout, including emotional exhaustion (β=0.17, p .001), depersonalization (β=0.27, p .001), and personal accomplishment (β=0.16, p .001) were found to positively predict suicidal ideation. Female professionals, specifically those employed in the field of gynecology, as well as nurses, exhibited elevated levels of burnout.. Conclusion: The study has shown an association between burnout syndrome and suicidal ideation among medical professionals working in gynecology and emergency departments. Public health interventions are warranted to address the mental well-being of medical professionals working in the Gynecology and Emergency departments in Pakistan.