The prevalence of stress and burnout in health professionals has been the focus of a multitude of studies. Kakunje (2011), recognizes that health professionals, are highly susceptible to excessive levels of stress, which can ultimately impede on quality of care and work performance. Health professionals regularly face debilitating job stressors, for example “excessive working hours, sleep deprivation, repeated exposure to emotionally charged situations, dealing with difficult patients, conflicts with other staff” (Kakunje, 2011, p.1). Additionally, it is noted that decreased ability to engage and maintain a social life, is a main contributor to increased stress levels (Kakunje, 2011).
A …show more content…
Health professionals, who are affected by work associated stress, are more likely to experience anxiety, depression, troubles in social relationships or substance abuse (Wallace et al., 2009). Emerging research is showing the health professionals who experience stress, burnout, depression or general psychosocial distress, are likely to provide reduced quality of care (Wallace et al., 2009). Thus, when health professionals are unwell, their role in the health care system is negatively