Skip to main content
BMC Public Health logoLink to BMC Public Health
. 2019 Oct 22;19:1337. doi: 10.1186/s12889-019-7713-1

Burnout among healthcare providers in the complex environment of the Middle East: a systematic review

Z Chemali 1,9,, F L Ezzeddine 2, B Gelaye 2,3, M L Dossett 4,9, J Salameh 5, M Bizri 6, B Dubale 7, G Fricchione 8,9
PMCID: PMC6805482  PMID: 31640650

Abstract

Background

Burnout is a syndrome characterized by emotional exhaustion, increased depersonalization, and a diminished sense of personal accomplishment due to chronic emotional stress at work. Burnout impacts job satisfaction, job performance, vulnerability to illnesses, and interpersonal relationships. There is a gap in the systematic data on the burden of burnout among healthcare professionals from different sectors of healthcare in Middle Eastern countries. Our objective was to examine the burden of burnout among healthcare providers in the Middle East, how it was assessed, which sectors were included, and what interventions have been used.

Methods

Articles were found through a systematic review of search results including PubMed, Web of Science (Thomson Reuters), and PsycINFO (EBSCO) using search terms reflecting burnout in Middle Eastern countries among populations of healthcare providers. Studies were included if they examined a quantitative measure of burnout among healthcare providers in the Middle East.

Results

There were 138 articles that met our inclusion criteria for this systematic review. Studies focused on burnout in the Middle East among physicians (N = 54 articles), nurses (N = 55), combined populations of healthcare workers (N = 22), and medical students (N = 7). The Maslach Burnout Inventory was the most common tool to measure burnout. Burnout is common among physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, with prevalence estimates predominantly ranging between 40 and 60%. Burnout among healthcare providers in the Middle East is associated with characteristics of their work environments, exposure to violence and terror, and emotional distress and low social support.

Conclusions

Burnout is highly prevalent among healthcare providers across countries in the Middle East. Previous studies examining burnout in this region have limitations in their methodology. More thoroughly developed epidemiologic studies of burnout are necessary. Health system strengthening is needed in a region that has endured years of ongoing conflict, and there is an urgency to design and implement programs that tackle burnout among health professionals.

Keywords: Burnout, Middle East, Health personnel

Background

Burnout is a syndrome characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a diminished sense of personal achievement [1]. Evidence suggests that healthcare professionals are especially susceptible to experiencing burnout [24], and the rise of burnout prevalence among healthcare providers in recent years has been well documented [5]. Experts in the United States have recently deemed physician burnout as a public health crisis with up to 78% of physicians at least sometimes experiencing feelings of burnout [6]. Studies have also reported high burnout rates among medical students, residents, and nurses, with the prevalence found to be up to 44.2, 45, and 50% respectively [79]. Rates of burnout among healthcare workers in other high-income countries have been reported to be the comparable [1012].

Healthcare providers experiencing burnout may consequently develop symptoms such as anxiety, irritability, mood swings and depression [1317]. Furthermore, burnout has physical health outcomes including multiple aches and pains, digestive upset, and cardiovascular risks [1821]. Studies further demonstrate that physicians experiencing burnout are more likely to report job dissatisfaction and intention the leave the medical profession [22]. Lastly, burnout is a concern, as it not only has costly consequences for the provider, but also for the patients and the entire healthcare system. Provider wellbeing is linked to providing quality care and favorable outcomes for patients [23]. Furthermore, the impact of productivity loss related to burnout could lead to fewer healthcare resources that, in turn, can result in healthcare service waitlists and less than optimal healthcare delivery to the public. One estimate of the costs of physician cutback and early retirement suggests it totals to at least $160 million in patient service losses [24].

While there are a number of review studies examining the prevalence and determinants of burnout in healthcare workers in developed and/or westernized countries from North America, Europe, and Australasia [2530], there is a paucity of reviews focusing on burnout in developing and non-western countries, including Middle Eastern countries. The Middle East may be especially vulnerable to burnout due to the fragmented health systems that are in place. Many Middle Eastern countries have a critical shortage in healthcare professionals often due to brain drain. This may lead to overwork of the available workers, making them prone to burnout. In addition, as an issue specifically pertinent to the Middle East, countries like Iraq, Syria, Palestine and Yemen have been enduring years of ongoing conflict, putting an enormous strain on their healthcare systems as well as their healthcare providers.

Objectives

This study aimed to systematically review the literature on the burden of burnout among healthcare providers in the Middle East, including the construct of burnout used, which healthcare subspecialties were included, and any interventions evaluated.

This review intends to provide a foundation for future contributions aimed at reducing the burden of burnout in the Middle East.

Methods

This systematic review was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic.

Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines (Additional file 1: Table S1) [31].

Study selection and criteria for inclusion

In PubMed, Web of Science (Thomson Reuters), and PsychINFO (EBSCO), we identified studies using search terms for burnout and Middle Eastern countries (Additional file 2: Table S2). The term “Middle East” has no clear geographic or historical definition due to complex geopolitics [32]. There is controversy on the exact countries that are classified as being in this region, though 16 countries are common in most references, which were included in this study: Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen [3335]. All articles published prior to March 15, 2019 were eligible for inclusion. Further inclusion and selection criteria has been previously described in a companion article that examines burnout among healthcare providers in Sub-Saharan Africa [36].

Data extraction and quality assessment

Data extraction and quality assessment methods have been previously described in a companion article [36]. Study quality assessment is presented in Additional file 3: Tables S3, Additional file 4: Table S4, Additional file 5: Table S5 and Additional file 6: Table S6.

Results

The original literature search located a total of 722 articles in PubMed, 1167 articles in PsycINFO, and 645 articles in the Web of Science database (Fig. 1). Duplicate articles were removed, and 2057 remained for title review. Articles were rejected on title review for not being relevant or not meeting the search criteria. After reviewing article titles, 629 articles remained for abstract review. Candidate abstracts of the remaining 629 studies were rejected for not being relevant or not meeting the search criteria (N = 407). Studies in populations of healthcare providers (N = 219) were selected for full-text review. In the full-text review, articles were rejected if they were qualitative studies, not available in English, did not include healthcare providers, or were not relevant to the search criteria (N = 83).

Fig. 1.

Fig. 1

Flowchart of systematic literature review

A total of 136 articles met our inclusion criteria for this systematic review. Articles examined burnout in the Middle East among physicians (N = 54), nurses (N = 53), combined populations of healthcare workers (N = 22), and medical students (N = 7). Six articles examined burnout among healthcare professionals in Egypt, 46 in Turkey, 18 in Saudi Arabia, 29 in Iran, and 19 in Israel, 1 in United Arab Emirates, 3 in Qatar, 1 in Yemen, 8 in Lebanon, 2 in Palestine, 1 in Bahrain, and 2 in Jordan. Of the 138 eligible articles for inclusion, 130 used versions of the Maslach Burnout Inventory to measure burnout. One study in Saudi Arabia examined burnout among National Guard Physicians using the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory. One Israeli study measured burnout among physicians using the burnout subscale of the Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL). Additionally, three Israeli studies measured burnout using the Shirom-Melamed Burnout Questionnaire among physicians (N = 2 studies) and nurses (N = 1). Lastly, two studies used the Burnout Measure to measure burnout among medical students in Lebanon.

Burnout among physicians

Fifty-four articles examined burnout among physicians in Middle Eastern countries, comprising a total of 8588 participants across Egypt, Bahrain, Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen (Table 1). In 49 of the studies, burnout was assessed using the MBI [3780] or an abbreviated MBI [8183]. One study used the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory [84], one study used the burnout scale of the ProQOL [85], one study used the Burnout Measure [86], and two studies used the Shirom-Melamed Burnout Questionnaire [87, 88]. One study in Israel used a single-item measure adapted from the full MBI (“How often do you feel burned out from your work?”) to assess burnout on a 7 point Likert scale [89]. Another study in Israel also used a single measure item adapted from the full MBI (“I have become more indifferent towards patients since I started this work”) [90].

Table 1.

Characteristics of studies on burnout among physicians in the Middle East (N = 54)

1st author, Year Country Study population Burnout assessment EE (%) or mean ± SD DP (%) or mean ± SD PA (%) or mean ± SD Overall burnout (%) or mean ± SD
Abdul-Rahman, 2018 [40] UAE Physicians undergoing residency training (N = 302) MBI-HSS 75.5% 84% 74% 84.0%*
Abut, 2012 [41] Turkey Trainee anesthesiologists (N = 159) MBI

Females:

18.1 ± 6.4

Males:

19.2 ± 6.9

Females:

6.1 ± 3.9

Males:

7.4 ± 4.5

Females:

22.8 ± 4.9

Males:

21.1 ± 5.4

Afana, 2017 [84] Qatar Physicians undergoing residency training (N = 142) AMI 10.7 ± 3.6 5.4 ± 3.9 14.1 ± 3.1
Agha, 2015 [42] Saudi Arabia Doctors working at a tertiary care hospital (N = 96) MBI-HSS 68.8% 63.6% 38.5% 88.5%*
Ahmadpanah, 2015 [43] Iran General practitioners at emergency wards (N = 100) MBI 15.4% 14.5% 10.2%
Aksoy, 2014 [44] Turkey Pediatric residents (N = 22) and internal medicine residents (N = 33) MBI

Pediatric residents: 27.3%*

Internal medicine residents: 33.3%*

Al-Dubai, 2010 [45] Yemen Doctors (N = 356) MBI 63.2% 19.4% 33.0% 11.7%^
Al-Mendalawi, 2018 [46] Saudi Arabia Pediatric residents (N = 32) MBI 43% 72% 41%
Al-Sareai, 2013 [47] Saudi Arabia Physicians (N = 370) MBI 29.5% 15.7% 19.7% 6.3%^
Al-Shuhail, 2017 [87] Saudi Arabia National Guard Physicians (N = 95) The Oldenburg Burnout Inventory 46%+
Al-Youbi, 2013 [48] Saudi Arabia Pediatricians (N = 130) MBI 82%*
Aldrees, 2015 [49] Saudi Arabia Otolaryngology residents (N = 85) MBI-HSS 29.5 ± 9.6 10.7 ± 6.0 32.33 ± 6.0
Aldrees, 2017 [50] Saudi Arabia Plastic surgery residents (N = 38) MBI 71% 50% 34% 18%^
Aldrees, 2013 [51] Saudi Arabia Physicians (N = 348) MBI 54% 35% 34% 70%*
Alyamani, 2018 [52] Saudi Arabia Medical and surgical residents (N = 200) MBI-HSS 12.5% 31.5% 51.0%
Amiri, 2016 [53] Iran Primary Care Physicians (N = 548) MBI 15.5 ± 13.6 3.7 ± 5.4 35.5 ± 13.5 17.3%^
Arvandi, 2016 [54] Iran Clinical faculty (N = 143) MBI 25% 5.6% 44.8%
Ashkar, 2010 [55] Lebanon Medical residents (N = 155) MBI-HSS 67.7% 47.1% 23.9%
Bar-Sela, 2012 [56] Israel Oncology residents (N = 15) MBI

Pre-intervention:

Junior residents:3.6

Senior residents:3.1

Post-intervention:

Junior residents: 3.6

Senior residents:1.4

Pre-intervention:

Junior residents:2.6

Senior residents:0.98

Post-intervention:

Junior residents:2.1

Senior residents:1.4

Pre-intervention:

Junior residents:1.3

Senior residents:2.0

Post-intervention:

Junior residents:1.9

Senior residents:1.4

Bawakid, 2017 [85] Saudi Arabia Primary Care Physicians (N = 246) AMI 11.6 ± 4.7 5.6 ± 5.2 14.4 ± 3.6
Ben-Itzhak, 2015 [57] Israel Emergency physicians (N = 70) MBI 61.4% 51.4% 17.1%
Capraz, 2017 [58] Turkey Psychiatric trainees (N = 167) MBI 38.3%+
Erdur, 2015 [59] Turkey Emergency physicians (N = 174) MBI

Males:

24.6 ± 6.0

Females:

24.1 ± 6.7

Males:

30.0 ± 3.4

Females:

29.9 ± 3.9

Males:

11.0 ± 3.2

Females:

10.7 ± 4.1

Ghannam, 2019 [86] Qatar Medical residents (N = 256) AMI
Granek, 2016 [92] Israel Oncologists (N = 178)

single-item

(7-point Likert scale)

Males:

1.84 ± 1.5

Females: 2.69 ± 1.69

Granek, 2017 [93] Israel & Canada Oncologists (N = 177): Israeli (N = 79) and Canadian (N = 98) single-item (7-point Likert scale) Israeli and Canadian: 1.43 ± 1.6
Grossman, 2019 [60] Israel Pediatrics (N = 238) MBI 33%+
Gül, 2017 [61] Turkey Psychiatrists (N = 201) MBI

Psychiatrists with SCT:

28.9 ± 6.9

Psychiatrists without SCT:

23.7 ± 6.4

Psychiatrists with SCT:

11.1 ± 4.6

Psychiatrists without SCT:

10.4 ± 3.9

Psychiatrists with SCT:

20.3 ± 4.8

Psychiatrists without SCT:

19.2 ± 5.1

Psychiatrists with SCT:

58.4 ± 12.6

Psychiatrists without SCT:

51.4 ± 11.4

Haber, 2013 [88] Israel Physicians in conflict zones/situations (N = 97) ProQOL 17.16 ± 5.07
Haik, 2017 [62] Israel Burn clinicians (N = 55), specifically clinicians from Burns, Plastic and Reconstruction Surgery and Intensive Care MBI

24.3 ± 9.3

34.5%

9.3 ± 2.4

27.3%

34.9 ± 3.4

29.0%

38.2%^
Hameed, 2018 [63] Saudi Arabia Medical residents (N = 181) MBI 62.2% 70.6% 11.1%
Hasan, 2015 [64] Bahrain Secondary care doctors (N = 230) MBI-HSS 43.1% 26.7% 51.5%
Jalili, 2013 [65] Iran Emergency medicine residents and practitioners (N = 188) MBI 22.9 9.3 31.5
Jamjoom, 2018 [66] Saudi Arabia Pediatric residents (N = 32) MBI-HSS 43.0% 71.8% 40.6%
Karaoglu, 2015 [67] Turkey Pediatric residents (N = 74) MBI 23.8 ± 5.3 14.9 ± 2.8 26.7 ± 3.6
Keinan, 1987 [68] Israel Male internists (N = 79) single-item (7-point Likert scale) 3.13
Kosan, 2018 [69] Turkey Physicians (N = 663) MBI 15.6 ± 7.0 5.7 ± 3.9 21.0 ± 4.4

Kotb, 2014

[70]

Egypt Physicians (N = 171): Hospital physicians (N = 140) and family physicians (N = 31) MBI

Hospital physicians: 53.9%+

Family physicians: 41.9%+

Kotb, 2014 [71] Egypt Family physicians (N = 31) MBI

Pre-intervention:

41.9%+

Post-intervention

32.3%+

Kushnir, 2006 [72] Israel Pediatricians (N = 126)

Shirom-Melamed Burnout Questionnaire

(6-point response scale)

Pediatric specialists:

2.6 ± 0.8

Regular pediatricians

2.6 ± 0.7

Clinic directors:

2.4 ± 0.7

Non-directors:

2.7 ± 0.8

Kushnir, 2008 [91] Israel Pediatricians (N = 200) Shirom-Melamed Burnout Questionnaire 2.6 ± 0.8
Kushnir, 2014 [90] Israel Primary care physicians (N = 136) MBI 44.5% 36.0% 31.6%
Pirincci, 2015 [73] Turkey Assistant physicians working at a university hospital(N = 222) MBI 22.3 ± 8.4 8.7 ± 4.7 18.7 ± 5.9
Sadat-Ali, 2005 [74] Saudi Arabia Orthopedic surgeons (N = 69) MBI 50.7% 59.4% 17.0%
Salem, 2018 [75] Qatar Primary Care Physicians (N = 144) MBI 11.9% 28.9% 19.7% 16.0%^
Salem, 2018 [76] Lebanon Oncologists (N = 51) MBI-HSS 33.3% 19.6% 13.7%
Shams, 2013 [77] Egypt Anesthesiologists (N = 98) MBI-HSS 62.2% 56.1% 58.2%
Shinan-Altman, 2018 [78] Israel

Psychosocial oncologists

(N = 85)

MBI-HSS 16.3% 2.4%
Soltanifar, 2018 [79] Iran Female emergency medicine physicians (N = 77) MBI 84.5% 48.1% 80.5%
Talih, 2016 [89] Lebanon Medical residents (N = 118) The Burnout Measure 27.0%
Tarcan, 2017 [166] Turkey Physicians (N = 250) MBI-HSS 3.6 ± 1.3 2.8 ± 1.2 3.8 ± 1.1
Taycan, 2014 [81] Turkey Physicians (N = 139) MBI-HSS 14.9 ± 7.0 5.8 ± 3.3 20.4 ± 3.9
Turgut, 2016 [82] Turkey Medical residents (N = 127) MBI

1st year:32.1 ± 6.6

2nd year:32.3 ± 6.1

3rd year:29.6 ± 7.1

4th year:28.1 ± 6.1

1st year: 15.5 ± 3.3

2nd year: 15.9 ± 3.5

3rd year: 14.2 ± 3.1

4th year: 13.9 ± 2.8

1st year: 11.1 ± 6.4

2nd year: 9.5 ± 5.2

3rd year:10.0 ± 5.1

4th year: 8.8 ± 4.6

Tzischinsky, 2001 [83] Israel Medical residents (N = 78) MBI

Beginning of residency:

2.31 ± 1.3

After 1 year:

2.75 ± 1.37

After 2 years: 2.03 ± 1.27

Abbreviations: AMI = Abbreviated Maslach Inventory; MBI = Maslach Burnout Inventory; MBI-HSS = Maslach Burnout Inventory - Human Services Survey; ProQOL = Professional Quality of Life which is composed of three discrete subscales. The first subscale measures burnout. UAE = United Arab Emirates; SCT = Sluggish Cognitive Tempo

*Overall burnout prevalence based on high burnout score in at least one of the burnout categories

^Overall burnout prevalence based on high burnout scores in all three of the burnout categories

+Unclear how overall burnout prevalence was defined

High levels of burnout were reported among physicians across the Middle Eastern countries. Among physicians undergoing residency training in the United Arab Emirates (N = 302), 70% of the participants reported overall burnout, 75.5% reported moderate-to-high emotional exhaustion, 84% had high depersonalization, and 74% experienced a diminished sense of personal accomplishment [37]. Among doctors working at a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia (N = 96), the prevalence of reported high emotional exhaustion, high depersonalization and reduced personal exhaustion were 68.8, 63.6, and 38.5% respectively [39]. A study in Egypt found that more than half of anesthesiologists with academic careers (N = 98) met the criteria for all burnout subscales [74]. Among Iranian female emergency medicine physicians (N = 85), the level of burnout in the three subscales of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and perceived low accomplishment was high in 84.5, 48.1, and 80.5% of participants respectively [76]. A study in Yemen reported that among doctors (N = 356), 63.2% were identified as experiencing a high degree of burnout in at least one category of burnout, and those working more than 40 h a week had a 2.8 times higher risk of reporting high levels of burnout compared to those working less than 40 h a week [42]. Among primary care physicians (N = 144) in Qatar, the overall prevalence of burnout according to the MBI was 16.1% [72]. A study assessing burnout among Israeli burn specialist clinicians (N = 55), 38.2% of them reported high levels of burnout on all three subscales of the MBI [59]. One third of internal medicine residents met the criteria for clinically significant burnout according to an assessment done in Turkey (N = 33) [41]. A study conducted in Lebanon found that among physicians undergoing residency training (N = 155), 80% of the sample had reported a high level of burnout in at least one domain [52]. Among secondary doctors in Bahrain (N = 230), the reported prevalence of high emotional exhaustion, high depersonalization, and diminished sense of personal accomplishment were 43.1, 70.6, and 11.1% respectively [61].

Burnout among nurses

We found 53 studies that assessed burnout among a total of 10,992 nurses in Palestine, Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Israel, and Jordan (Table 2). All of the 53 studies used the MBI to measure burnout [91143].

Table 2.

Characteristics of studies on burnout among nurses in Middle East (N = 53)

1st author, Year Country Study population Burnout assessment EE (%) or mean ± SD DP (%) or mean ± SD PA (%) or mean ± SD Overall Burnout (%) or mean ± SD
Abushaikha, 2009 [94]g Palestine Nurses from 5 private hospitals (N = 152) MBI 23.5 ± 10.2 5.4 ± 5.6 34.1 ± 9.4
Ahmadi, 2014 [95] Iran Nurses from a university affiliated hospital (N = 100): emergency (N = 28), orthopedic (N = 22), dialysis wards (N = 19), and ICU (N = 31) MBI

Emergency: 17.0%+

Orthopedic:

18.6%+

Dialysis:

29.0%+

ICU:

8.7%+

Akkus, 2010 [96] Turkey Nurses from stem cell transplantation units (N = 57) MBI 15.1 ± 7.5 3.7 ± 3.3 12.2 ± 5.1
Akman, 2016 [97] Turkey Pediatric nurses (N = 165) MBI

high job satisfaction scores: 19.1 ± 6.2

low job satisfaction scores: 26.9 ± 6.2

high job satisfaction scores:

5.9 ± 3.9

low job satisfaction scores: 9.2 ± 4.9

high job satisfaction scores:

11.9 ± 5.8

low job satisfaction scores: 9.8 ± 5.1

Al-Turki, 2010 [98] Saudi Arabia Multi-national nurses from a tertiary care hospital (N = 189) MBI 45.0% 42.0% 29.0%
Al-Turki, 2010 [99] Saudi Arabia Nurses from a tertiary care hospital (N = 37) MBI 46.0% 49.0% 17.0%
Alharbi, 2016 [100] Saudi Arabia Critical care nurses (N = 150) MBI 35.2 ± 8.9 16.3 ± 5.2 33.9 ± 8.0
Alimoglu, 2005 [101] Turkey Nurses (N = 141) MBI 19.2 ± 6.9 5.2 ± 3.6 20.8 ± 4.0
Altun, 2002 [102] Turkey Nurses (N = 160) MBI 17.3 ± 7.7 4.6 ± 4.3 22.8 ± 5.9
Anwar, 2017 [103] Egypt Nurses from a university hospital (N = 227) MBI-HSS

24.6 ± 6.8

27%

12.1 ± 4.1

48%

28.4 ± 6.3

78%

Arslan, 2016 [104] Turkey Nurses from 16 hospitals (N = 799) MBI 16.4 ± 7.1 5.4 ± 4.2 10.1 ± 5.8
Azmoon, 2018 [105] Iran Nurses from teaching hospitals (N = 522) MBI 13.1 ± 6.6 28.5 ± 9.1 18.4 ± 7.1
Bagheri, 2019 [106] Iran Nurses from 4 teaching hospitals (N = 684) MBI 38.7% 30.4% 24.6%
Bakir, 2010 [107] Turkey Military nurses (N = 377) MBI

Age (year) ≤29:

24.8 ± 6.9

Age (year) ≥30:

12.1 ± 10.7

Age (year) ≤29:

10.7 ± 3.7

Age (year) ≥30:

25.3 ± 7.3

Age (year) ≤29:

20.8 ± 5.1

Age (year) ≥30:

20.7 ± 5.5

Chayu, 2011 [108] Israel Nephrology nurses (N = 132) MBI and Shirom-Melamed Burnout Questionnaire (SMBD) 3.2 ± 1.3 1.8 ± 0.8 2.1 ± 0.9
Darban, 2016 [109] Iran Nurses (N = 60) MBI

Pre-intervention: 60.8 ± 7.8

After: 60.9 ± 7.9

After 1 month: 61.0 ± 8.0

Study group

Pre-intervention: 61.1 ± 8.0

After: 58.8 ± 7.6

After 1 month: 54.6 ± 7.0

Demir, 2003 [110] Turkey Nurses at university and state hospitals (N = 333) MBI

state hospitals:

19.1 ± 5.7

university hospitals: 17.2 ± 6.0

state hospitals:

5.6 ± 3.6

university hospitals: 4.7 ± 3.1

state hospitals:

20.3 ± 4.1

university hospitals: 20.6 ± 4.1

Dor, 2018 [111] Israel Hospital nurses (N = 278) and community nurses (N = 179) MBI

Hospital:

3.0 ± 1.0

Community: 2.4 ± 0.9

Hospital:

2.2 ± 0.9

Community: 2.0 ± 0.9

Hospital:

2.1 ± 0.6

Community: 2.0 ± 2.7

Emold, 2011 [112] Israel Nurses from 6oncology units (N = 39) MBI 30.8% 5.1% 15%
Farahbod, 2015 [113] Iran Nurses at a trauma referral teaching hospital (N = 214) MBI 24.7 ± 12.2 4.7 ± 5.1 41.1 ± 9.6
Gholami, 2016 [114] Iran Nurses (N = 415) MBI 25.1 ± 12.4 5.9 ± 5.1 33.3 ± 9.6
Gunusen, 2010 [115] Turkey Nurses (N = 108) MBI

Pre-intervention:

Coping group:

20.9 ± 4.7

Control group:

21.4 ± 4.2

Post-intervention:

Coping group:

20.9 ± 4.7

Control group:

21.4 ± 4.2

Pre-intervention:

Coping group:

5.8 ± 3.6

Control group:

5.0 ± 3.1

Post-intervention:

Coping group:

4.6 ± 3.2

Control group: 5.4 ± 2.7

Pre-intervention:

Coping group:

19.7 ± 3.4

Control group:

19.7 ± 3.6

Post-intervention:

Coping group: 21.4 ± 3.5

Control group: 19.9 ± 3.1

Hamaideh, 2011 [116] Jordan Mental health nurses (N = 181) MBI

24.0 ± 13.9

55%

7.0 ± 7.1

50%

31.6 ± 11.5

50%

Iecovich, 2017 [117] Israel Nurses in long-term care facilities (N = 154) MBI 25.6 ± 10.5 10.2 ± 5.7 20.1 ± 8.1
Ilhan, 2008 [118] Turkey Nurses (N = 418) MBI 18.0 ± 6.3 5.7 ± 3.9 19.8 ± 4.7
Kapucu, 2009 [119] Turkey Nurses from hemodialysis units (N = 95) MBI 16.0 ± 6.3 4.7 ± 3.2 21.0 ± 4.6
Karadag, 2017 [120] Turkey Nurses from a state hospital (N = 118) MBI 48.9 ± 6.1 5.8 ± 3.5 11.2 ± 4.6
Karakoc, 2016 [121] Turkey Nurses working in dialysis centers (N = 171) MBI 14.0 ± 7.3 4.4 ± 3.4 20.8 ± 4.1
Karaman, 2017 [122] Turkey and Iran Nurses working in surgical clinics (N = 179) in Turkey (N = 87) and Iran (N = 97) MBI

Turkey:

28.3 ± 6.9

Iran:

25.5 ± 9.2

Turkey:

10.2 ± 3.4

Iran: 9.4 ± 3.9

Turkey:

29.5 ± 5.0

Iran: 31.6 ± 5.2

Kavurmacı, 2014 [123] Turkey Hemodialysis nurses (N = 32) MBI 17.1 ± 8.3 5.9 ± 4.1 20.6 ± 4.1
Kutluturkan, 2016 [124] Turkey Oncology nurses (N = 140) MBI

(median):

24.0

(median):

9.0

(median):

16.0

Kızılcı, 2012 [125] Turkey Nurses working in academic institutions (N = 94) MBI 16.4 ± 5.9 4.8 ± 3.6 22.3 ± 4.3
Moghaddasi, 2013 [126] Iran Nurses working in medical and education centers (N = 340) MBI

22.8 ± 12.4

34.6%

6.99 ± 6.23

28.8%

32.30 ± 9.26

95.7%

Mohammad,

2012 [127]

Iran Nurses (n = 712) MBI 21.9%+
Mudallal, 2017 [128] Jordan Nurses (N = 407) MBI

31.5 ± 12.8

60.9%

15.2 ± 6.9

65.1%

32.3 ± 18.9

43.0%

Naveri, 2009 [129] Iran Nurses (N = 200) MBI 21.7%+
Ozbas, 2016 [130] Turkey Oncology nurses (N = 82) MBI

Pre-intervention:

Study group:

25.3 ± 6.8

Control group:

23.6 ± 6.9

Post-intervention:

Study group:

19.0 ± 4.0

Control group:

26.1 ± 5.8

Pre-intervention:

Study group:

10.8 ± 4.1

Control group:

9.7 ± 3.0

Post-intervention:

Study group:

7.9 ± 2.6

Control group:

11.1 ± 3.1

Pre-intervention:

Study group:

29.1 ± 4.6

Control group:

28.4 ± 4.1

Post-intervention:

Study group:

30.6 ± 3.7

Control group:

27.7 ± 4.6

Ozden, 2013 [131] Turkey Intensive care nurses (N = 138) MBI 15.8 ± 7.2 6.5 ± 4.2 20.7 ± 5.0
Özgür, 2018 [132] Turkey Nurses at a university hospital (N = 155) MBI 20.3 ± 5.9 7.2 ± 3.4 12.76 ± 3.67
Palazoglu, 2017 [133] Turkey Emergency nurses (N = 236) MBI 21.9 ± 6.5 10.0 ± 4.0 21.0 ± 4.5
Rezaei, 2018 [134] Iran Nurses (N = 200) MBI-HSS 2.9 ± 0.3 2.9 ± 0.2 2.6 ± 0.5
Ron, 2014 [135] Israel Nurses (N = 214) single-item 3.92 ± 0.44

Sabanciogullari

2015 [136]

Turkey Nurses working at a university hospital (N = 63) MBI 14.8 ± 5.1 24.6 ± 3.7 21.6 ± 2.4
Sahraian, 2008 [137] Iran Nurses working at public hospitals (N = 180) MBI 25.8 ± 0.9 5.9 ± 0.3 29.6 ± 1.1
Shahriari, 2014 [138] Iran Critical care nurses (N = 170) MBI

Fixed shift schedule:

60%,

Non-fixed schedule: 12.9%

Fixed shift schedule:

32.9%,

Non-fixed schedule: 18.8%

Fixed shift schedule:

27.1%

Non-fixed schedule: 43.5%

Shamali, 2015 [139] Iran Nurses with rotating shift schedules (N = 130) and fixed shift schedules (N = 130) MBI

Rotating schedule

20.5 ± 11.1

Fixed schedule:

26.6 ± 11.4

Rotating schedule

10.8 ± 6.7

Fixed schedule:

11.7 ± 6.4

Rotating schedule

31.1 ± 9.9

Fixed schedule:

29.3 ± 11.2

Sorour, 2012 [140] Egypt Emergency nurses (N = 58) MBI 37.9%*
Soroush, 2016 [141] Iran Nurses working in neonatal intensive care units (N = 86) MBI 21.3 ± 8.1 2.6 ± 31 22.6 ± 5.4
Taleghani, 2017 [142] Iran Oncology nurses (N = 67) MBI 38.1 ± 22.7 25.6 ± 17.8 47.9 ± 13.7
Tekindal, 2012 [143] Turkeys Nurses working at a state hospital (N = 225) MBI 27.2 ± 6.3 9.3 ± 3.1 29.4 ± 4.2
Topbas, 2019 [144] Turkey Hemodialysis nurses (N = 82) MBI 15.1 ± 7.9 8.2 ± 5.1 22.3 ± 4.9
Tuna, 2014 [145] Turkey Oncology nurses (N = 189) MBI 18.3 ± 6.2 5.9 ± 3.6 11.1 ± 4.1
Yousefy, 2006 [146] Iran Psychiatric nurses (N = 55) and medical nurses (N = 51) MBI 16.64 ± 7.54 4.96 ± 5.50 13.82 ± 9.83

Abbreviations: MBI = Maslach Burnout Inventory; MBI-HSS = Maslach Burnout Inventory - Human Services Survey

*Overall burnout prevalence based on high burnout score in at least one of the burnout categories

^Overall burnout prevalence based on high burnout scores in all three of the burnout categories

+Unclear how overall burnout prevalence was defined

Nurses reported high levels of burnout (Table 2). For example, among nurses from five private hospitals in Palestine (N = 152), burnout measures were high on the emotional exhaustion (mean ± standard deviation (SD): 23.48 ± 10.23), depersonalization (5.42 ± 5.61), and personal achievement (34.14 ± 9.44) subscales of the MBI [91]. A study conducted among Iranian nurses working at public hospitals (N = 180) found that 25% of the participants met the criteria for burnout according to the MBI [134]. A study of nurses in Israel (N = 39) reported that 30.8% of participants reported emotional exhaustion very frequently, 5.1% have a cynical feeling towards their job often, and 15.4% rarely experience professional self-actualization [109]. Among mental health nurses in Jordan (N = 181), 55% of them reported high level of burnout in the subscale of emotional exhaustion, 50% reported high depersonalization, and 50% reported a reduced sense of personal accomplishment [113].

Burnout among combined populations of healthcare workers

There were 22 articles that studied burnout among combined populations of healthcare workers (Table 3). Ten studies were based in Turkey, six studies in Iran, three studies in Lebanon, one each in Egypt, Israel, and Palestine. All of the 22 studies used the MBI to assess burnout [144165]. High levels of burnout were reported in these populations. For example, among employees working at an emergency department in Lebanon (N = 256), the prevalence of reported high emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced sense of personal accomplishment was 54.9, 43.5, and 44.5% respectively [148]. A study in Iran on mental health service providers (N = 100), burnout scores were high in emotional exhaustion ((mean ± SD): 24.9 ± 6.9), depersonalization (9.3 ± 2.1), and diminished sense of personal accomplishment (35.5 ± 7.0) [150]. Among oncology employees in Turkey (N = 90), reported prevalence of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced sense of personal achievement was 42, 20, and 35.6% respectively [153].

Table 3.

Characteristics of studies on burnout among combined populations of healthcare workers in the Middle East (N = 22)

1st author, Year Country Study population Burnout assessment EE (%) or mean ± SD DP (%) or mean ± SD PA (%) or mean ± SD Overall Burnout or mean ± SD

Abarghouei,

2016 [147]

Iran Hospital personnel: (N = 340): health sector (N = 170) and administrative sector (N = 170) MBI 21.7 ± 7.3 9.6 ± 3.7 26.8 ± 6.2
Abdo, 2016 [148] Egypt Physicians (N = 266) and nurses (N = 284) at an emergency hospital MBI

Nurses: 52.8%

Physicians: 29.7%

Nurses: 44.4%

Physicians: 45.6%

Nurses: 96.5%

Physicians: 99.2%

Alacacioglu, 2009 [149] Turkey Physicians (N = 77) and nurses (N = 56) at an oncology clinic MBI

Nurses: 5.4%

Physicians: 7.8%

Nurses: 5.4%

Physicians: 15.6%

Nurses: 100%

Physicians: 100%

Alameddine, 2011 [150] Lebanon Employees working at an emergency department (N = 256): MBI 54.9% 43.5% 44.5%
Alameddine, 2012 [151] Lebanon Health providers (N = 755) MBI 23.3% 12.8% 18.7%
Alameddine, 2017 [152] Lebanon Health providers (N = 1000) MBI-HSS 22.1% 10.8% 42.1%
Ashtari, 2009 [153] Iran Mental health service providers (N = 100) MBI 29.4 ± 6.9 9.3 ± 2.1 35.5 ± 7.0
Bijari, 2016 [154] Iran Rural health workers (N = 423) MBI 17.7% 6.4% 53% 5.7%^
Calgan, 2011 [155] Turkey Community pharmacists (N = 251) MBI 16.8 4.0 22.0
Demirci, 2010 [156] Turkey Oncology employees (N = 90) MBI

23.80 ± 10.98

42%

5.21 ± 4.99

20%

36.23 ± 8.05

35.6%

Devebakan, 2018 [157] Turkey Healthcare workers (N = 80) MBI

Gokcen, 2013

[158]

Turkey Emergency department workers (N = 270): doctors(N = 630), nurses(N = 85), paramedics (N = 122) MBI 14.3 ± 8.2 6.5 ± 4.3 18.9 ± 6.5.
Gulalp, 2008 [159] Israel Emergency physicians (N = 8) nurses (N = 40), and nurse’s aide (N = 12) MBI 19.1 ± 9.1 7.8 ± 4.7 22.3 ± 5.9
Guveli, 2015 [160] Turkey Oncology health workers (N = 159) MBI 14.2 ± 7.2 4.9 ± 3.4 6.2 ± 5.3
Hamdan, 2017 [161] Palestine Emergency workers: physicians (N = 142), nurses (N = 161), and administrative personnel (N = 141). MBI-HSS 64.8% 38.1% 34.6%
Hosseiniarzfuni, 2015 [162] Iran Nurses (N = 35) and technicians (N = 32) MBI

Technicians: 19%^

Nurses: 24%^

Kabir, 2016 [163] Iran Healthcare workers (N = 1141) MBI 9.1%^

Kömür 2017

[164]

Turkey Mortuary staff (N = 142): forensic medicine specialists (N = 40), forensic medicine residents (N = 54), autopsy technicians (N = 45) and other staff members (N = 24) MBI

11.1 ± 6.6

14%

8.2 ± 3.6

32.4%

17.4 ± 5.5

76.1%

Malakouti, 2011 [165] Iran Rural mental health workers (Behvarzes) (N = 212) MBI 14.5 ± 9.9 2.2 ± 3.4 33.8 ± 10.4
Tarcan, 2017 [166] Turkey Health professionals (N = 250): doctors (N = 38), nurses (N = 55), technicians (N = 118), and medical secretaries (N = 39). MBI-HSS 3.6 ± 1.3 2.8 ± 1.2 3.8 ± 1.1
Tekin, 2017 [167] Turkey Health care professionals (N = 120): nurses (N = 73) and doctors (N = 47) MBI

Type D personality (negative):

20.7 ± 7.6 (positive):

16.3 ± 8.7

Type D personality (negative):

6.8 ± 4.2

(positive):

4.5 ± 4.2

Type D personality (negative): 11.7 ± 5.2

(positive): 9.7 ± 5.9

Tunc, 2009 [168] Turkey Health care professionals (250): physicians (N = 170) and nurses (N = 81) MBI-HSS

Physicians:

1.6 ± 0.9

Nurses:

2.2 ± 0.9

Physicians:

0.9 ± 0.7

Nurses:

1.3 ± 0.8

Physicians:

1.0 ± 0.7

Nurses:

1.4 ± 0.8

Abbreviations: MBI = Maslach Burnout Inventory; MBI-HSS = Maslach Burnout Inventory - Human Services Survey

*Overall burnout prevalence based on high burnout score in at least one of the burnout categories

^Overall burnout prevalence based on high burnout scores in all three of the burnout categories

+Unclear how overall burnout prevalence was defined

Burnout among medical students

A total of seven articles examined burnout among medical students in Oman, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey, and Lebanon (Table 4). Among medical students in Oman (N = 662), the prevalence of overall severe burnout was 7.4% as assessed by the MBI [166]. Two studies in Saudi Arabia used the MBI and reported that among 249 and 276 medical students, the overall burnout prevalence was 67.1 and 56.5% respectively [167, 168]. A study in Iran found that among 230 medical students, burnout scores were high for emotional exhaustion (mean ± SD: 20.2 ± 10.1), depersonalization (6.6 ± 5.3), and personal accomplishment (34.9 ± 8.6, 169). Among 165 medical students in Lebanon, 75% were reported to exhibit high levels of overall burnout [170]. Another study in Lebanon found that 43% of students (N = 176) were experiencing high levels of overall burnout according to the Burnout Measure [171]. Finally, among 302 medical students in Turkey, high burnout scores were reported for emotional exhaustion (25.5 ± 7.5), depersonalization (11.3 ± 3.9), and personal accomplishment (24.7 ± 3.4) [172].

Table 4.

Characteristics of studies on burnout among medical students in the Middle East (N = 7)

First Author, Year Country Study population Burnout assessment EE (%) or mean ± SD DP (%) or mean ± SD PA (%) or mean ± SD Overall Burnout or mean ± SD
Al-Alawi, 2017 [169] Oman Medical students (N = 662) MBI 30.1% 33.9% 31.1% 7.4%^
Almalki, 2017 [170] Saudi Arabia Medical students (N = 249) MBI-HSS 62.2% 58.6% 60.2% 67.1%*
Altannir, 2019 [171] Saudi Arabia Medical students (N = 276) MBI

18.5 ± 10.3

17.4%

14.2 ± 9.2

56.9%

28.7 ± 9.5

14.9%

13.4^
Ebrahimi, 2018 [172] Iran Medical students (N = 230) MBI 20.2 ± 10.2 6.7 ± 5.3 34.9 ± 8.6
Fares, 2016 [173] Lebanon Medical students (N = 165) MBI-HSS 75%+
Sevencan, 2010 [175] Turkey Medical students (N = 302) MBI 25.5 ± 7.5 11.3 ± 3.9 24.7 ± 3.4
Talih, 2018 [174] Lebanon Medical students (N = 176) Burnout Measure 43%

Abbreviations: MBI = Maslach Burnout Inventory; MBI-HSS = Maslach Burnout Inventory - Human Services Survey

*Overall burnout prevalence based on high burnout score in at least one of the burnout categories

^Overall burnout prevalence based on high burnout scores in all three of the burnout categories

+Unclear how overall burnout prevalence was defined

Risk factors associated with burnout among healthcare providers

Components in the work environment were statistically significantly associated with measures of burnout, including heavy workload, unorganized and difficult working conditions, difficulties balancing professional and private life, and income. For example, among medical residents in Lebanon (N = 155), those who reported working more than 80 h a week were 2.91 times as likely to report burn out compared to residents working less than 80 h a week [52]. In a Saudi Arabia study conducted among primary care physicians (N = 246), multivariate regression analysis showed that the number of patients per day (p < 0.001), more paperwork (p < 0.001), unorganized patients flow to clinics (p = 0.021), and patient pressure/violence (p < 0.001) were all statistically significant positive predictors of burnout [82]. Work overload and difficulties balancing professional and private life were both reported to be significant predictors of high emotional exhaustion (p < 0.05) in a study done in Iran [62]. A study in Turkey found among assistant physicians working at a university hospital (N = 222), those who considered their monthly income level as “poor” differed significantly from those who regarded their monthly income levels as “good” in terms of mean scores in subscales of the MBI, emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment (p < 0.05) [70]. A study in Egypt among 227 nurses in a university hospital reported that the number of shifts and shift timing (night) proved to be significant predictors for high grades of the three domains of burnout collectively among nurses [100]. Among 333 nurses at university and state hospitals in Turkey, always working night was found the be positively associated with all subscales of burnout as reported by the MBI (p < 0.05) as compared to always working day shift or occasionally working night shift [107]. A study in Iran of critical care nurses (N = 170) reported that among nurses with fixed shift schedules, the odds of high risk of emotional exhaustion as measured by the MBI was 10.1 (95%CI: 4.68–21.75) times higher than the odds among nurses with non-fixed shift schedule [135].

Exposure to violence, terror, and conflict were all associated with increased odds of burnout. This suggests there may be an interaction between burnout and secondary traumatic stress in Middle East caregivers. The war trauma primary and secondary exposure as being worsening factors in burnout was specifically mentioned and reported in a study related to Lebanese nurses working in academic centers. The study also linked trauma exposure to higher level of depression in nurses (36.2%) compared to 10% of general population [171]. Moreover, among emergency physicians working in Turkey (N = 174), there were significant associations between emotional exhaustion, as reported by the MBI, and overall violence (p = 0.012) and verbal violence (p = 0.016) and depersonalization and total violence (p = 0.021) and verbal violence (p = 0.012) [56]. A study done on healthcare workers in Palestine (N = 444) reported that the odds of high risk of burnout among those who had exposure to violence was two times the odds among those who had no exposure to violence [158]. Additionally, a study in Israel which assessed burnout among physicians in conflict zones (N = 97) reported that higher levels of PTSD symptoms due to war and terror were associated with higher levels of compassion fatigue (β = 0.594; t = 4.419; p < 0.001) [85]. Another study in Israel among nurses (N = 214) reported that nurses’ exposure to national terror and the level of distress they experienced due to ongoing terror attacks were statistically significantly associated with high levels of burnout [132].

Reports examining the association between age, time in career, and burnout were variable. Overall, results suggest that the association between age and burnout is bimodal, in which younger age (i.e. under 25) and old age (i.e. over 55), along with greater work experience are associated with the highest burnout levels. Many studies suggested that younger age was a significant predictor of burnout. For example, a study among physicians in Saudi Arabia (N = 270) found that younger age was significantly associated with higher emotional exhaustion and lower personal accomplishment scores [44]. A study in Turkey found that among physicians (N = 663), mean emotional exhaustion and depersonalization scores were significantly higher and personal accomplishment scores were significantly lower in participants aged under 25 years [66]. Among two different studies of nurses in Turkey (N = 141) and (N = 171) younger age was also found to be associated with increased risk of burnout [98, 118]. Among burn clinicians in Israel (N = 55), older age was found to be a protective factor for high risk of overall burnout (OR = 0.79, p = 0.019) [59]. Among oncology employees (N = 90) working in Turkey, being of age less than 35 years was significantly associated with burnout [153]; however, this study also reported that work experience greater than 10 years was also significantly associated with burnout. In that same vein, other studies reported that increasing age and greater occupational experience was positively associated with burnout. Among psychiatric trainees (N = 167) in Turkey, logistic regression confirmed that older age (p = 0.02) was associated with severe burnout [55]. Among nurses in Iran (N = 200), greater age and work experience accounted for 30% of the variance in depersonalization [131]. A study in Egypt among 266 physicians and 284 nurses also found that age and years of experience were significant predictors of burnout [145]. In Iran among 1141 healthcare workers, the number of years of experience in the health professional was also associated with increased levels of burnout (p < 0.001) [160].

The majority of studies that found a significant association between gender and burnout reported that female gender was a significant predictor of increased risk for burnout [38, 48, 52, 81, 89, 103, 105, 117, 125, 163, 165, 168, 173].. For example, among trainee anesthesiologists in Turkey (N = 159) and physicians in Saudi Arabia (N = 348), female gender was significantly associated with greater burnout scores (p < 0.05, 0.02 respectively) [38, 48]. Among nephrology nurses in Israel (N = 132) and nurses in Jordan (N = 407), female gender was also found to be a significant predictor of burnout (p < 0.05, p < 0.01) [105, 125]. Among medical students in Saudi Arabia (N = 276), female gender was a significant predictor of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization (OR = 4.34, p = 0.001) [168]. Only three studies reported that males were associated with higher burnout risk compared to females: among 130 pediatricians in Saudi Arabia, the prevalence of burnout among males was significantly greater than females (40% vs 31%; p = 0.012, 45). Another study in Turkey among nurses working in dialysis centers (N = 171) found that male sex was associated with higher depersonalization scores (p < 0.05) [118]. Another study in Iran found that among 340 hospital personnel, emotional exhaustion and depersonalization scores were higher among males compared to females [144]. Lastly, some studies reported no association at all between gender and burnout, such as a study among 302 medical students in Turkey [172] and a study among primary care physicians in Iran (N = 548) [50].

Experiences of stress and lack of job support were additionally found to be predictive of job burnout among healthcare professionals. For example, among trainee anesthesiologists in Turkey, perceived stress, as measured by the Perceived Stress Scale, were significantly associated with increased odds of burnout (p < 0.05) [38]. Among anesthesiologists in Egypt, there was a significant positive correlation between job stress, as measured by Workplace Stress Scale of the American Institute of Stress, and MBI-HSS subscales [74]. Moreover a significant positive relationship between sub dimensions of job stress level, as measured by the Job Stressors Scale, and of burnout level (p < 0.05) was found among oncology nurses in Turkey [142]. Furthermore, the strongest significant single predictor of all burnout dimensions among anesthesiologists in Egypt (N = 98) was lack of job support [74]. Among nurses from four teaching hospitals in Iran (N = 684), lack of workplace support was also found to be a significant predictor of burnout (β = − 0.043, CI 95% = − 0.097–-0.003) [103].

Burnout intervention programs

There were only a few programs aimed at alleviating burnout in the Middle East. Only three studies examined burnout-related interventions in physicians [53, 68, 83], and only four examined interventions for nurses [106, 112, 127, 133]. Bar-Sela et al. examined the effect of “Balint” group meetings as an intervention aimed at improving burnout levels among oncology junior and senior residents in Israel [53]. The oncology residents attended nine sessions in one year, in which they meet to discuss cases from the residents’ experiences. From a comparison of MBI scores, the investigators found that higher measures of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization were noted in junior residents at the beginning of the year, before the intervention; however, in senior residents, all measures of burnout increased after the intervention. In Qatar, Ghannam et al. assessed the effect of a stress management intervention on residents’ (N = 256) burnout outcomes [83]. They conducted a 1-day workshop with the objectives being to help residents identify stressors, identify early warning signs of stress, and practice intervention techniques. At 1-month post-course, 83.6% listed at least one piece of knowledge or skill that they had put into practice since the course. Using the abbreviated MBI, residents improved in three of the four burnout constructs: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and satisfaction with the practice of medicine. Kotb, Mohamed, Kamel, Ismail and Abdulmajeed evaluated the effect of an educational program on level of professional burnout among family physicians working in family practice centers in Egypt (N = 31) [68]. Prevalence of burnout after six months of the intervention program decreased from (41.9%) to (32.3%).

In Iran, Darban, Balouchi, Narouipour, Sarfazaei and Shahdahi examined the effect of a communication skills training on the burnout of nurses [106]. The training was carried out for the intervention group as a 2-day workshop for 8 h within a week. They found that the mean score of job burnout in the intervention group significantly decreased while mean scores of burnout in the control group showed no significant change (p = 0.01). A randomized controlled trial was conducted in Turkey by Gunusen and Ustun to evaluate the effects of coping and support group interventions on the reduction of burnout among nurses [112]. Cognitive coping strategies and problem-solving methods were used for coping training. The objectives of the social support groups were to provide support, information and a sense of belonging, and create an environment where individuals share their experiences. Right after the intervention, there was an immediate reduction in emotional exhaustion dimension in the intervention group, as assessed by the MBI, of burnout. However, after 6 months, scores were increased again.

Another study in Turkey was conducted to determine the effect of a “psychodrama-based psychological empowerment program” on the levels of burnout in oncology nurses (N = 82) [127]. They found that there was a statistically significant difference between nurses’ scores in the sub dimensions of emotional burnout, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment (p < 0.05), and such that nurses in the study group had lower levels of emotional burnout and desensitization and high personal achievement scores at one and three months after the psychological empowerment program compared to nurses in the control/comparison group. Lastly, Sabanciogullari and Dogan evaluated the effects of the Professional Identity Development Program on burnout levels of registered nurses in Turkey [133]. The program consisted of ten sessions delivered to the study group once a week. During the research period, burnout levels significantly decreased in the study group, while those of the control group increased.

Discussion

Burnout is prevalent among physicians, nurses, and other medical professionals in the Middle East. Prevalence estimates range between 40 and 60% with reported rates between 13 and 100% (Tables S1–4). The minority of studies that reported lower than average levels of burnout attributed such differences to the quality of their study, sample size, and characteristics of the population studied. Nurses reported the highest levels of burnout among healthcare providers. High levels of burnout were associated with harsh work conditions, stress, and exposure to violence and conflict. Studies in the Middle East maintain previous research among healthcare providers that have demonstrated that risk factors for burnout include female gender, young age, and low support and resources to handle workload. The number of reported interventions aimed at alleviating burnout in the Middle East is scarce. Nevertheless, the interventions that have been attempted are similar to some that have shown benefits in North America and Europe (e.g cognitive skills (178;179), support groups (180–182), Balint groups (183; 184)). Mindfulness interventions were mentioned anecdotally in several papers that did not meet inclusion criteria for this review. The duration of these interventions varied from a week [109] to a year [56] depending on the format. Repetitive and regular interventions that raise awareness and inform professionals about burnout, emotional empowerment, and stress management may have the potential to render a long-lasting protective effect on the risk of occupational burnout in the Middle East. Therefore, it would be reasonable to encourage studies of contextualized caregiver interventions that address culturally relevant ways to reduce the toxic stress of working with traumatized populations in under-resourced settings while also enhancing resilience factors.

Limitations of current studies

We noted that the MBI was used as the assessment tool for burnout in the majority of studies. Among the studies that used the MBI, we point out that the burnout scores were presorted in multiple manners either listing the percentage of participants with high burnout on each subscale, or the percentage of participants with high burnout on each subscale and the total score, and the percentage of participants with high total burnout. Some listed the percentage of participants with high burnout on emotional subscale only or the total and individual burnout as continuous scores together or separately. Finally, some studies reported individual burnout as continuous score while others reported individual burnout as continuous scores and percentages of participants. In addition, there were three different versions of the MBI used namely: MBI, MBI-HSS, and Abbreviated MBI (or AMI) rendering difficult the direct comparison of burnout rates in different countries and populations of healthcare workers. Additionally, recent work has raised concerns about how the MBI operationalizes burnout [174]. Having said that, the MBI has not been validated in healthcare workers in the Middle East, and there may be different cultural interpretations of questions related to the construct of burnout.

In addition, Table 3 points to a total of 22 studies examining burnout in combined populations of healthcare workers in the Middle East knowing that those workers have highly variable job workload and responsibilities and should not have been lumped together for precision sake. Last but not least, the cross-sectional studies lacked temporality and varied in quality adding to the limitations of the small sample sizes. (Additional file 3: Table S3, Additional file 4: Table S4, Additional file 5: Table S5 and Additional file 6: Table S6).

Conclusion

In contrast to high-income countries, the Middle East has not given much attention to burnout, despite the many stressors facing its healthcare community. Given the adverse health effects of burnout on patients and providers alike, the ever-increasing burden of caring for major public health threats, amidst ongoing regional conflicts and refugee crises with a paucity of resources and shortage of support, more attention needs to be paid to healthcare provider well-being in the Middle East. Further studies should include longitudinal assessments tackling cognition, performance and quality of life as well as reports on mood, substance use, and safety issues such as suicide, to enhance our understanding of the burnout syndrome and its consequences in the Middle East. Moreover, efforts should be channeled to assessing burnout consistently with a validated instrument or developing new instruments that would perform culturally better in the context of the Middle East. Finally, designing and deploying programs aimed at raising awareness, promoting well-being and burnout prevention, and improving coping with burnout symptoms through evidence-based stress management and resiliency training in the Middle East would be the gold standard for any academic, private or public institution promoting excellence in care for the population they serve.

Supplementary information

12889_2019_7713_MOESM1_ESM.docx (21.2KB, docx)

Additional file 1: Table S1. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

12889_2019_7713_MOESM2_ESM.docx (14.3KB, docx)

Additional file 2: Table S2. Database terms of search.

12889_2019_7713_MOESM3_ESM.docx (113.4KB, docx)

Additional file 3: Table S3. Quality assessment based on modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale of studies on burnout among physicians in the Middle East (N = 54).

12889_2019_7713_MOESM4_ESM.docx (22.3KB, docx)

Additional file 4: Table S4. Quality assessment based on modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale of studies on burnout among nurses in the Middle East (N = 53).

12889_2019_7713_MOESM5_ESM.docx (17.9KB, docx)

Additional file 5: Table S5. Quality assessment based on the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale on burnout among healthcare workers in the Middle East (N = 22).

12889_2019_7713_MOESM6_ESM.docx (15.8KB, docx)

Additional file 6: Table S6. Quality assessment based on the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale on burnout among midwives, medical and nursing students in the Middle East(N = 7).

Acknowledgements

Not applicable.

Abbreviations

AMI

Abbreviated Maslach Inventory

MBI

Maslach Burnout Inventory

MBI-HSS

Maslach Burnout Inventory - Human Services Survey

PRISMA

Preferred Reporitng Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses

ProQOL

Professional Quality of Life

SCT

Sluggish Cognitive Tempo

UAE

United Arab Emirates

Author’s contributions

ZC, FE, and BG conceived and designed the review. ZC and FE performed the literature search. FE, ZC, BG, MD, JS, MB, BD, and GF contributed to the writing and editing of the manuscript. ZC, FE, BG, MD, JS, MB, BD, and GF read and approved the final manuscript.

Funding

MLD was supported by K23AT009218 from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NIH had no role in study design; in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; and in the decision to submit the paper for publication.

Availability of data and materials

Not applicable.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Not applicable.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors have no competing interests to declare.

Footnotes

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Contributor Information

Z. Chemali, Email: zelchemali@mgh.harvard.edu

F. L. Ezzeddine, Email: ezzeddine@hsph.harvard.edu

B. Gelaye, Email: bgelaye@hsph.harvard.edu

M. L. Dossett, Email: mdossett@mgh.harvard.edu

J. Salameh, Email: Js73@aub.lb.edu

M. Bizri, Email: Mb112@aub.edu.lb

B. Dubale, Email: binihakim@gmail.com

G. Fricchione, Email: gfricchione@mgh.harvard.edu

Supplementary information

Supplementary information accompanies this paper at 10.1186/s12889-019-7713-1.

References

  • 1.Maslach C, Jackson SE. The measurement of experienced burnout. J Organ Behav. 1981;2(2):99–113. doi: 10.1002/job.4030020205. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  • 2.Bender A, Farvolden P. Depression and the workplace: a progress report. (1535–1645 (Electronic)). [DOI] [PubMed]
  • 3.Morse G, Salyers Mp Fau - Rollins AL, Rollins Al Fau - Monroe-DeVita M, Monroe-DeVita M Fau - Pfahler C, Pfahler C. Burnout in mental health services: a review of the problem and its remediation. (1573–3289 (Electronic)). [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed]
  • 4.Gelsema TI, van der Doef M Fau - Maes S, Maes S Fau - Janssen M, Janssen M Fau - Akerboom S, Akerboom S Fau - Verhoeven C, Verhoeven C. A longitudinal study of job stress in the nursing profession: causes and consequences. (0966–0429 (Print)). [DOI] [PubMed]
  • 5.Shanafelt TD, Hasan O, Dyrbye LN, Sinsky C, Satele D, Sloan J, et al. Changes in Burnout and Satisfaction With Work-Life Balance in Physicians and the General US Working Population Between 2011 and 2014. (1942–5546 (Electronic)). [DOI] [PubMed]
  • 6.M. H. Survey of America’s Physicians: Practice Patterns & Perspectives. https:// physiciansfoundationorg/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/physicians-survey-results-final-2018pdf. 2018.
  • 7.Frajerman A, Morvan Y, Krebs MO, Gorwood P, Chaumette B. Burnout in medical students before residency: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur Psychiat. 2019;55:36–42. doi: 10.1016/j.eurpsy.2018.08.006. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 8.Rodrigues H, Cobucci R, Oliveira A, Cabral JV, Medeiros L, Gurgel K, et al. Burnout syndrome among medical residents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2018;13(11):e0206840. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0206840. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 9.Molina-Praena Jesús, Ramirez-Baena Lucia, Gómez-Urquiza José, Cañadas Gustavo, De la Fuente Emilia, Cañadas-De la Fuente Guillermo. Levels of Burnout and Risk Factors in Medical Area Nurses: A Meta-Analytic Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2018;15(12):2800. doi: 10.3390/ijerph15122800. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 10.Soler JK, Yaman H, Esteva M, Dobbs F, Asenova RS, Katić M, et al. Burnout in European family doctors: the EGPRN study. Fam Pract. 2008;25(4):245–265. doi: 10.1093/fampra/cmn038. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 11.Wu S, Singh-Carlson S, Odell A, Reynolds G, Su Y. Compassion fatigue, burnout, and compassion satisfaction among oncology nurses in the United States and Canada. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2016;43(4):E161–E169. doi: 10.1188/16.ONF.E161-E169. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 12.Sharma A, Sharp DM, Walker LG, Monson JR. Stress and burnout in colorectal and vascular surgical consultants working in the UK National Health Service. Psycho-oncology. 2008;17(6):570–576. doi: 10.1002/pon.1269. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 13.Aiken LH, Clarke SP, Sloane DM, Sochalski J, Silber JH. Hospital nurse staffing and patient mortality, nurse burnout, and job dissatisfaction. Jama. 2002;288(16):1987–1993. doi: 10.1001/jama.288.16.1987. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 14.Gundersen L. Physician burnout. Ann Intern Med. 2001;135(2):145–148. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-135-2-200107170-00023. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 15.Parker PA, Kulik JA. Burnout, self- and supervisor-rated job performance, and absenteeism among nurses. J Behav Med. 1995;18(6):581–599. doi: 10.1007/BF01857897. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 16.Shanafelt TD, Bradley KA, Wipf JE, Back AL. Burnout and self-reported patient care in an internal medicine residency program. Ann Intern Med. 2002;136(5):358–367. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-136-5-200203050-00008. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 17.Trufelli DC, Bensi CG, Garcia JB, Narahara JL, Abrao MN, Diniz RW, et al. Burnout in cancer professionals: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) 2008;17(6):524–531. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2354.2008.00927.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 18.Dyrbye LN, West CP, Satele D, Boone S, Tan L, Sloan J, et al. Burnout among U.S. medical students, residents, and early career physicians relative to the general U.S. population. Acad Med. 2014;89(3):443–451. doi: 10.1097/ACM.0000000000000134. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 19.Maslach C, Leiter MP. Early predictors of job burnout and engagement. J Appl Psychol. 2008;93(3):498–512. doi: 10.1037/0021-9010.93.3.498. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 20.Eckleberry-Hunt J, Lick D, Boura J, Hunt R, Balasubramaniam M, Mulhem E, et al. An exploratory study of resident burnout and wellness. Acad Med. 2009;84(2):269–277. doi: 10.1097/ACM.0b013e3181938a45. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 21.Salvagioni DAJ, Melanda FN, Mesas AE, Gonzalez AD, Gabani FL, Andrade SM. Physical, psychological and occupational consequences of job burnout: a systematic review of prospective studies. PLoS One. 2017;12(10):e0185781. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0185781. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 22.Williams ES, Konrad TR, Scheckler WE, Pathman DE, Linzer M, McMurray JE, et al. Understanding physicians' intentions to withdraw from practice: the role of job satisfaction, job stress, mental and physical health. Health Care Manag Rev. 2001;26(1):7–19. doi: 10.1097/00004010-200101000-00002. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 23.Rathert C, Williams ES, Linhart H. Evidence for the quadruple aim: a systematic review of the literature on physician burnout and patient outcomes. Med Care. 2018;56(12):976–984. doi: 10.1097/MLR.0000000000000999. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 24.Dewa CS, Jacobs P, Thanh NX, Loong D. An estimate of the cost of burnout on early retirement and reduction in clinical hours of practicing physicians in Canada. BMC Health Serv Res. 2014;14:254. doi: 10.1186/1472-6963-14-254. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 25.Dewa CS, Loong D, Bonato S, Thanh NX, Jacobs P. How does burnout affect physician productivity? A systematic literature review. BMC Health Serv Res. 2014;14(1):325. doi: 10.1186/1472-6963-14-325. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 26.Epp K. Burnout in critical care nurses: a literature review. Dynamics (Pembroke, Ont). 2012;23(4):25–31. [PubMed]
  • 27.Khamisa N, Peltzer K, Oldenburg B. Burnout in relation to specific contributing factors and health outcomes among nurses: a systematic review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2013;10(6):2214–2240. doi: 10.3390/ijerph10062214. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 28.Rama-Maceiras P, Jokinen J, Kranke P. Stress and burnout in anaesthesia: a real world problem? Curr Opin Anaesthesiol. 2015;28(2):151–158. doi: 10.1097/ACO.0000000000000169. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 29.Roberts DL, Cannon KJ, Wellik KE, Wu Q, Budavari AI. Burnout in inpatient-based versus outpatient-based physicians: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Hosp Med. 2013;8(11):653–664. doi: 10.1002/jhm.2093. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 30.Toh SG, Ang E, Devi MK. Systematic review on the relationship between the nursing shortage and job satisfaction, stress and burnout levels among nurses in oncology/haematology settings. Int J Evid Based Healthc. 2012;10(2):126–141. doi: 10.1111/j.1744-1609.2012.00271.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 31.Moher D, Liberati A, Tetzlaff J, Altman DG. Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement. Int J Surg. 2010;8(5):336–341. doi: 10.1016/j.ijsu.2010.02.007. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 32.Özalp O. Where is the Middle East? The Definition and Classification Problem of the Middle East as a Regional Subsystem in International Relations2011. 5–22 p.
  • 33.Tabatabaei-Malazy O, Shadman Z, Ejtahed HS, Atlasi R, Abdollahi M, Larijani B. Quality of reporting of randomized controlled trials of herbal medicines conducted in metabolic disorders in Middle East countries: Syst Rev. (1873–6963 (Electronic)). [DOI] [PubMed]
  • 34.Johnson JM, Carragher R. Interprofessional collaboration and the care and management of type 2 diabetic patients in the Middle East: a systematic review. J Interprof Care. 2018;32(5):621–628. doi: 10.1080/13561820.2018.1471052. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 35.Britannica E. Middle East, The editors of Encyclopedia. Britannica. 2014.
  • 36.Dubale BW, Friedman LE, Chemali Z, Denninger JW, Mehta DH, Alem A, et al. Systematic review of burnout among healthcare providers in sub-Saharan Africa. BMC Public Health. 2019;19(1):1247. doi: 10.1186/s12889-019-7566-7. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 37.Abdulrahman M, Nair SC, Farooq MM, Al Kharmiri A, Al Marzooqi F, Carrick FR. Burnout and depression among medical residents in the United Arab Emirates: a multicenter study. J Family Med Prim Care. 2018;7(2):435–441. doi: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_199_17. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 38.Abut YC, Kitapcioglu D, Erkalp K, Toprak N, Boztepe A, Sivrikaya U, et al. Job burnout in 159 anesthesiology trainees. Saudi J Anaesth. 2012;6(1):46–51. doi: 10.4103/1658-354X.93059. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 39.Agha A, Mordy A, Anwar E, Saleh N, Rashid I, Saeed M. Burnout among middle-grade doctors of tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia. Work (Reading, Mass) 2015;51(4):839–847. doi: 10.3233/WOR-141898. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 40.Ahmadpanah M, Torabian S, Dastore K, Jahangard L, Haghighi M. Association of occupational burnout and type of personality in Iranian general practitioners. Work (Reading, Mass) 2015;51(2):315–319. doi: 10.3233/WOR-141903. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 41.Aksoy DY, Durusu Tanriover M, Unal S, Dizdar O, Kalyoncu U, Karakaya J, et al. Burnout syndrome during residency in internal medicine and pediatrics in a country without working time directive. Int J Health Care Qual Assur. 2014;27(3):223–230. doi: 10.1108/IJHCQA-12-2012-0127. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 42.Al-Dubai SA, Rampal KG. Prevalence and associated factors of burnout among doctors in Yemen. J Occup Health. 2010;52(1):58–65. doi: 10.1539/joh.O8030. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 43.Al-Mendalawi MD. Assessment of pediatric residents burnout in a tertiary academic Centre. Saudi medical journal. 2018;39(5):528. doi: 10.15537/smj.2018.5.22516. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 44.Al-Sareai NS, Al-Khaldi YM, Mostafa OA, Abdel-Fattah MM. Magnitude and risk factors for burnout among primary health care physicians in Asir Province, Saudi Arabia. East Mediterr Health J. 2013;19(5):426–434. doi: 10.26719/2013.19.5.426. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 45.Al-Youbi RA, Jan MM. Burnout syndrome in pediatric practice. Oman Med J. 2013;28(4):252–254. doi: 10.5001/omj.2013.71. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 46.Aldrees T, Badri M, Islam T, Alqahtani K. Burnout among otolaryngology residents in Saudi Arabia: a multicenter study. J Surg Educ. 2015;72(5):844–848. doi: 10.1016/j.jsurg.2015.02.006. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 47.Aldrees T, Hassouneh B, Alabdulkarim A, Asad L, Alqaryan S, Aljohani E, et al. Burnout among plastic surgery residents. National survey in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Med J. 2017;38(8):832–836. doi: 10.15537/smj.2017.8.18346. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 48.Aldrees TM, Aleissa S, Zamakhshary M, Badri M, Sadat-Ali M. Physician well-being: prevalence of burnout and associated risk factors in a tertiary hospital, Riyadh Saudi Arabia. Ann Saudi Med. 2013;33(5):451–456. doi: 10.5144/0256-4947.2013.451. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 49.Alyamani A, Alyamani L, Altheneyan F, Aldhali S, Albaker K, Alshaalan A, et al. Prevalence of burnout among residents at king Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Int J Med Res Health Sci. 2018;7(12):37–40. [Google Scholar]
  • 50.Amiri M, Khosravi A, Eghtesadi AR, Sadeghi Z, Abedi G, Ranjbar M, et al. Burnout and its influencing factors among primary health care providers in the north east of Iran. PLoS One. 2016;11(12):e0167648. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0167648. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 51.Arvandi Z, Emami A, Zarghi N, Alavinia SM, Shirazi M, Parikh SV. Linking medical faculty stress/burnout to willingness to implement medical school curriculum change: a preliminary investigation. J Eval Clin Pract. 2016;22(1):86–92. doi: 10.1111/jep.12439. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 52.Ashkar K, Romani M, Musharrafieh U, Chaaya M. Prevalence of burnout syndrome among medical residents: experience of a developing country. Postgrad Med J. 2010;86(1015):266–271. doi: 10.1136/pgmj.2009.092106. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 53.Bar-Sela G, Lulav-Grinwald D, Mitnik I. "Balint group" meetings for oncology residents as a tool to improve therapeutic communication skills and reduce burnout level. J Cancer Educ. 2012;27(4):786–789. doi: 10.1007/s13187-012-0407-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 54.Ben-Itzhak S, Dvash J, Maor M, Rosenberg N, Halpern P. Sense of meaning as a predictor of burnout in emergency physicians in Israel: a national survey. Clin Exp Emerg Med. 2015;2(4):217–225. doi: 10.15441/ceem.15.074. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 55.Capraz N, Ozalp DCT, Yalcin M, Can ET, Alkin T. Pressure from superiors and older age increase the risk of burnout syndrome among psychiatric trainees: A nation-wide survey in Turkey. Eur Psychiat. 2017;41:S298–S29S. doi: 10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.02.179. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  • 56.Erdur B, Ergin A, Yuksel A, Turkcuer I, Ayrik C, Boz B. Assessment of the relation of violence and burnout among physicians working in the emergency departments in Turkey. Ulus Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg. 2015;21(3):175–181. doi: 10.5505/tjtes.2015.91298. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 57.Grossman Z, Chodick G, Kushnir T, Cohen HA, Chapnick G, Ashkenazi S. Burnout and intentions to quit the practice among community pediatricians: associations with specific professional activities. Isr J Health Policy Res. 2019;8(1):2. doi: 10.1186/s13584-018-0268-2. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 58.Gül A, Gül H, Özkal UC, Kıncır Z, Gültekin G, Emul HM. The relationship between sluggish cognitive tempo and burnout symptoms in psychiatrists with different therapeutic approaches. Psychiatry Res. 2017;252:284–288. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2017.03.015. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 59.Haik J, Brown S, Liran A, Visentin D, Sokolov A, Zilinsky I, et al. Burnout and compassion fatigue: prevalence and associations among Israeli burn clinicians. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2017;13:1533–1540. doi: 10.2147/NDT.S133181. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 60.Hameed TK, Masuadi E, Al Asmary NA, Al-Anzi FG, Al Dubayee MS. A study of resident duty hours and burnout in a sample of Saudi residents. BMC Med Educ. 2018;18(1):180. doi: 10.1186/s12909-018-1300-5. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 61.Hasan HI, Nooh Y, Alsayyad AS. Prevalence and factors affecting burnout among secondary care doctors in Bahrain- a cross sectional study. Int J Med Res Health Sci. 2015;4(2):401–406. doi: 10.5958/2319-5886.2015.00074.0. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  • 62.Jalili M, Roodsari GS, Nia AB. Burnout and associated factors among Iranian emergency medicine practitioners. Iran J Public Health. 2013;42(9):1034–1042. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 63.Jamjoom RS, Park YS. Assessment of pediatric residents burnout in a tertiary academic Centre. Saudi Med J. 2018;39(3):296–300. doi: 10.15537/smj.2018.3.22328. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 64.Karaoglu N, Pekcan S, Durduran Y, Mergen H, Odabasi D, Ors R. A sample of paediatric residents' loneliness-anxiety-depression-burnout and job satisfaction with probable affecting factors. J Pak Med Assoc. 2015;65(2):183–191. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 65.Keinan G, Melamed S. Personality characteristics and proneness to burnout: a study among internists. Stress Med. 1987;3(4):307–315. doi: 10.1002/smi.2460030412. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  • 66.Kosan Z, Calikoglu EO, Guraksin A. Levels of burnout and their associated factors among physicians working in Northeast Anatolia. Niger J Clin Pract. 2018;21(7):875–881. doi: 10.4103/njcp.njcp_298_17. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 67.Kotb AA, Mohamed KA, Kamel MH, Ismail MA, Abdulmajeed AA. Comparison of burnout pattern between hospital physicians and family physicians working in Suez Canal University Hospitals. Pan Afr Med J. 2014;18:164. doi: 10.11604/pamj.2014.18.164.3355. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 68.Kotb AA, Mohamed KA-E, Kamel MH, Ismail MAR, Abdulmajeed AA. Evaluating the effect of an educational program on level of professional burnout among family physicians in the Faculty of Medicine—Suez Canal University. Arab J Psych. 2014;25(1):52–60. doi: 10.12816/0004115. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  • 69.Kushnir T, Cohen AH. Job structure and burnout among primary care pediatricians. Work (Reading, Mass) 2006;27(1):67–74. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 70.Pirincci E, Vicdanli SS. Burnout levels of assistant physicians working at a TURKISH UNIVERSITY hospital. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. 2015;46(2):330–338. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 71.Sadat-Ali M, Al-Habdan IM, Al-Dakheel DA, Shriyan D. Are orthopedic surgeons prone to burnout? Saudi Med J. 2005;26(8):1180–1182. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 72.Salem M, Taher M, Alsaadi H, Alnema A, Al-Abdulla S. Prevalence and determinants of burnout among primary healthcare physicians in Qatar. World Fam Med. 2018;16(7):22–28. doi: 10.5742/MEWFM.2018.93474. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  • 73.Salem R, Akel R, Fakhri G, Tfayli A. Burnout among Lebanese oncologists: prevalence and risk factors. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2018;19(8):2135–2139. doi: 10.22034/APJCP.2018.19.8.2135. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 74.Shams T, El-Masry R. Job stress and burnout among academic career Anaesthesiologists at an Egyptian University hospital. Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J. 2013;13(2):287–295. doi: 10.12816/0003236. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 75.Shinan-Altman S, Cohen M, Rasmussen V, Turnell A, Butow P. Burnout among psychosocial oncologists in Israel: the direct and indirect effects of job demands and job resources. Palliat Support Care. 2018;16(6):677–684. doi: 10.1017/S1478951517001006. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 76.Soltanifar A, Pishbin E, Attaran Mashhadi N, Najaf Najafi M, Siahtir M. Burnout among female emergency medicine physicians: a nationwide study. Emerg Med Australas. 2018;30(4):517–522. doi: 10.1111/1742-6723.12941. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 77.Tarcan GY, Tarcan M, Top M. An analysis of relationship between burnout and job satisfaction among emergency health professionals. Total Qual Manag Bus Excell. 2017;28(11–12):1339–1356. doi: 10.1080/14783363.2016.1141659. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 78.Taycan O, Taycan SE, Celik C. Relationship of burnout with personality, alexithymia, and coping behaviors among physicians in a semiurban and rural area in Turkey. Arch Environ Occup Health. 2014;69(3):159–166. doi: 10.1080/19338244.2013.763758. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 79.Turgut N, Karacalar S, Polat C, Kiran O, Gultop F, Kalyon ST, et al. Burnout syndrome during residency. Turk J Anaesthesiol Reanim. 2016;44(5):258–264. doi: 10.5152/TJAR.2016.28000. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 80.Tzischinsky O, Zohar D, Epstein R, Chillag N, Lavie P. Daily and yearly burnout symptoms in Israeli shift work residents. J Hum Ergol. 2001;30(1–2):357–362. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 81.Afana A, Ghannam J, Ho EY, Al-Khal A, Al-Arab B, Bylund CL. Burnout and sources of stress among medical residents at Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar. East Mediterr Health J. 2017;23(1):40–45. doi: 10.26719/2017.23.1.40. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 82.Bawakid K, Abdulrashid O, Mandoura N, Shah HB, Ibrahim A, Akkad NM, et al. Burnout of Physicians Working in Primary Health Care Centers under Ministry of Health Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Cureus. 2017;9(11). [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed]
  • 83.Ghannam J, Afana A, Ho EY, Al-Khal A, Bylund CL. The impact of a stress management intervention on medical residents’ stress and burnout. Int J Stress Manage. 2019.
  • 84.Al-Shuhail AS, Al-Saleh S, Al-saleh SS, Elhassan I, Wajid S. Prevalence of burnout among National Guard Health Affairs Physicians in Dammam, Saudi Arabia - a cross-sectional study. Asian J Pharm. 2017;11(4):S924–S9S9. [Google Scholar]
  • 85.Haber Y, Palgi Y, Hamama-Raz Y, Shrira A, Ben-Ezra M. Predictors of professional quality of life among physicians in a conflict setting: the role of risk and protective factors. Isr J Psychiatry Relat Sci. 2013;50(3):174–180. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 86.Talih F, Warakian R, Ajaltouni J, Shehab AA, Tamim H. Correlates of depression and burnout among residents in a Lebanese Academic Medical Center: a cross-sectional study. Acad Psychiatry. 2016;40(1):38–45. doi: 10.1007/s40596-015-0400-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 87.Kushnir T, Greenberg D, Madjar N, Hadari I, Yermiahu Y, Bachner YG. Is burnout associated with referral rates among primary care physicians in community clinics? Fam Pract. 2014;31(1):44–50. doi: 10.1093/fampra/cmt060. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 88.Kushnir T, Cohen AH. Positive and negative work characteristics associated with burnout among primary care pediatricians. Pediatr Int. 2008;50(4):546–551. doi: 10.1111/j.1442-200X.2008.02619.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 89.Granek L, Krzyzanowska MK, Nakash O, Cohen M, Ariad S, Barbera L, et al. Gender differences in the effect of grief reactions and burnout on emotional distress among clinical oncologists. Cancer. 2016;122(23):3705–3714. doi: 10.1002/cncr.30236. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 90.Granek L, Ben-David M, Nakash O, Cohen M, Barbera L, Ariad S, et al. Oncologists’ negative attitudes towards expressing emotion over patient death and burnout. Support Care Cancer. 2017;25(5):1607–1614. doi: 10.1007/s00520-016-3562-y. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 91.Abushaikha L., Saca Hazboun H. Job satisfaction and burnout among Palestinian nurses. Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal. 2009;15(1):190–197. doi: 10.26719/2009.15.1.190. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 92.Ahmadi O, Azizkhani R, Basravi M. Correlation between workplace and occupational burnout syndrome in nurses. Adv Biomed Res. 2014;3:44. doi: 10.4103/2277-9175.145715. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 93.Akkuş Y, Karacan Y, Göker H, Aksu S. Determination of burnout levels of nurses working in stem cell transplantation units in Turkey. Nurs Health Sci. 2010;12(4):444–449. doi: 10.1111/j.1442-2018.2010.00557.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 94.Akman O, Ozturk C, Bektas M, Ayar D, Armstrong MA. Job satisfaction and burnout among paediatric nurses. J Nurs Manag. 2016;24(7):923–933. doi: 10.1111/jonm.12399. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 95.Al-Turki HA. Saudi Arabian nurses. Are they prone to burnout syndrome? Saudi Med J. 2010;31(3):313–316. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 96.Al-Turki HA, Al-Turki RA, Al-Dardas HA, Al-Gazal MR, Al-Maghrabi GH, Al-Enizi NH, et al. Burnout syndrome among multinational nurses working in Saudi Arabia. Ann Afr Med. 2010;9(4):226–229. doi: 10.4103/1596-3519.70960. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 97.Alharbi J, Wilson R, Woods C, Usher K. The factors influencing burnout and job satisfaction among critical care nurses: a study of Saudi critical care nurses. J Nurs Manag. 2016;24(6):708–717. doi: 10.1111/jonm.12386. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 98.Alimoglu MK, Donmez L. Daylight exposure and the other predictors of burnout among nurses in a university hospital. Int J Nurs Stud. 2005;42(5):549–555. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2004.09.001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 99.Altun I. Burnout and nurses' personal and professional values. Nurs Ethics. 2002;9(3):269–278. doi: 10.1191/0969733002ne509oa. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 100.Anwar MM, Elareed HR. Burnout among Egyptian nurses. J Public Health. 2017;25(6):693–697. doi: 10.1007/s10389-017-0831-2. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  • 101.Arslan Yurumezoglu H, Kocaman G. Predictors of nurses' intentions to leave the organisation and the profession in Turkey. J Nurs Manag. 2016;24(2):235–243. doi: 10.1111/jonm.12305. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 102.Azmoon H, Nodooshan HS, Jalilian H, Choobineh A, Shouroki FK. The Relationship Between Fatigue and Job Burnout Dimensions in Hospital Nurses. Health Scope. 2018;7(2).
  • 103.Bagheri Hosseinabadi M, Ebrahimi MH, Khanjani N, Biganeh J, Mohammadi S, Abdolahfard M. The effects of amplitude and stability of circadian rhythm and occupational stress on burnout syndrome and job dissatisfaction among irregular shift working nurses. J Clin Nurs. 2019. [DOI] [PubMed]
  • 104.Bakir B, Ozer M, Ozcan CT, Cetin M, Fedai T. The association between burnout, and depressive symptoms in a Turkish military nurse sample. Klinik Psikofarmakoloji Bülteni / Bulletin of Clinical Psychopharmacology. 2010;20(2):160–163. doi: 10.1080/10177833.2010.11790651. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  • 105.Chayu T, Kreitler S. Burnout in nephrology nurses in Israel. Nephrol Nurs J. 2011;38(1):65–77. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 106.Darban F, Balouchi A, Narouipour A, Safarzaei E, Shahdadi H. Effect of Communication Skills Training on the Burnout of Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study. J Clin Diagn Res. 2016;10(4):Ic01–Iic4. doi: 10.7860/JCDR/2016/19312.7667. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 107.Demir A, Ulusoy M, Ulusoy MF. Investigation of factors influencing burnout levels in the professional and private lives of nurses. Int J Nurs Stud. 2003;40(8):807–827. doi: 10.1016/S0020-7489(03)00077-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 108.Dor A, Mashiach Eizenberg M, Halperin O. Hospital nurses in comparison to community nurses: motivation, empathy, and the mediating role of burnout. Can J Nurs Res. 2018;844562118809262. [DOI] [PubMed]
  • 109.Emold C, Schneider N, Meller I, Yagil Y. Communication skills, working environment and burnout among oncology nurses. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2011;15(4):358–363. doi: 10.1016/j.ejon.2010.08.001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 110.Farahbod F, Goudarzvand Chegini M, Kouchakinejad Eramsadati L, Mohtasham-Amiri Z. The association between social capital and burnout in nurses of a trauma referral teaching hospital. Acta Med Iran. 2015;53(4):214–219. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 111.Gholami T, Pahlavian AH, Akbarzadeh M, Motamedzade M, Moghaddam RH. The role of burnout syndrome as a mediator for the effect of psychosocial risk factors on the intensity of musculoskeletal disorders: a structural equation modeling approach. Int J Occup Saf Ergon. 2016;22(2):283–290. doi: 10.1080/10803548.2016.1147876. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 112.Gunusen NP, Ustun B. An RCT of coping and support groups to reduce burnout among nurses. Int Nurs Rev. 2010;57(4):485–492. doi: 10.1111/j.1466-7657.2010.00808.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 113.Hamaideh SH. Burnout, social support, and job satisfaction among Jordanian mental health nurses. Issues Ment Health Nurs. 2011;32(4):234–242. doi: 10.3109/01612840.2010.546494. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 114.Iecovich E, Avivi M. Agism and burnout among nurses in long-term care facilities in Israel. Aging Ment Health. 2017;21(3):327–335. doi: 10.1080/13607863.2015.1102198. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 115.Ilhan MN, Durukan E, Taner E, Maral I, Bumin MA. Burnout and its correlates among nursing staff: questionnaire survey. J Adv Nurs. 2008;61(1):100–106. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007.04476.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 116.Kapucu SS, Akkus Y, Akdemir N, Karacan Y. The burnout and exhaustion levels of nurses working in haemodialysis units. J Ren Care. 2009;35(3):134–140. doi: 10.1111/j.1755-6686.2009.00108.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 117.Karadag Arli S, Bakan AB, Erisik E. An investigation of the relationship between Nurses' views on spirituality and spiritual care and their level of burnout. J Holist Nurs. 2017;35(3):214–220. doi: 10.1177/0898010116652974. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 118.Karakoc A, Yilmaz M, Alcalar N, Esen B, Kayabasi H, Sit D. Burnout syndrome among hemodialysis and peritoneal Dialysis nurses. Iran J Kidney Dis. 2016;10(6):395–404. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 119.Karaman Ozlu Z, Cay Yayla A, Gumus K, Khaghanyrad E. Comparison of nurses in two different cultures: who experiences more burnout. J Perianesth Nurs. 2017;32(3):238–244. doi: 10.1016/j.jopan.2015.09.012. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 120.Kavurmaci M, Cantekin I, Tan M. Burnout levels of hemodialysis nurses. Ren Fail. 2014;36(7):1038–1042. doi: 10.3109/0886022X.2014.917559. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 121.Kutluturkan S, Sozeri E, Uysal N, Bay F. Resilience and burnout status among nurses working in oncology. Ann General Psychiatry. 2016;15:33. doi: 10.1186/s12991-016-0121-3. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 122.Kızılcı S, Erdoğan V, Sözen E. The influence of selected personality and workplace features on burnout among nurse academics. TOJET: The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology. 2012;11(4):307–314. [Google Scholar]
  • 123.Moghaddasi J, Mehralian H, Aslani Y, Masoodi R, Amiri M. Burnout among nurses working in medical and educational centers in Shahrekord, Iran. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res. 2013;18(4):294–297. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 124.Mohammadpoorasl A, Maleki A, Sahebihagh MH. Prevalence of professional burnout and its related factors among nurses in Tabriz in 2010. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res. 2012;17(7):524–529. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 125.Mudallal Rola H., Othman Wafa’a M., Al Hassan Nahid F. Nurses’ Burnout: The Influence of Leader Empowering Behaviors, Work Conditions, and Demographic Traits. INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing. 2017;54:004695801772494. doi: 10.1177/0046958017724944. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 126.Nayeri ND, Negarandeh R, Vaismoradi M, Ahmadi F, Faghihzadeh S. Burnout and productivity among Iranian nurses. Nurs Health Sci. 2009;11(3):263–270. doi: 10.1111/j.1442-2018.2009.00449.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 127.Ozbas AA, Tel H. The effect of a psychological empowerment program based on psychodrama on empowerment perception and burnout levels in oncology nurses: psychological empowerment in oncology nurses. Palliat Support Care. 2016;14(4):393–401. doi: 10.1017/S1478951515001121. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 128.Ozden D, Karagozoglu S, Yildirim G. Intensive care nurses' perception of futility: job satisfaction and burnout dimensions. Nurs Ethics. 2013;20(4):436–447. doi: 10.1177/0969733012466002. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 129.Ozgur G, Tektas P. An examination of the correlation between nurses' organizational trust and burnout levels. Appl Nurs Res. 2018;43:93–97. doi: 10.1016/j.apnr.2018.07.004. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 130.Palazoglu CA, Koc Z. Ethical sensitivity, burnout, and job satisfaction in emergency nurses. Nurs Ethics. 2017;969733017720846. [DOI] [PubMed]
  • 131.Rezaei O, Habibi K, Arab Ghahestany D, Sayadnasiri M, Armoon B, Khan V, et al. Factors related to job burnout among nurses in the Razi psychiatric hospital, Iran. Int J Adolesc Med Health. 2018. [DOI] [PubMed]
  • 132.Ron P, Shamai M. The impact of ongoing national terror on the community of hospital nurses in Israel. Community Ment Health J. 2014;50(3):354–361. doi: 10.1007/s10597-013-9645-z. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 133.Sabancıogullari S, Dogan S. Effects of the professional identity development programme on the professional identity, job satisfaction and burnout levels of nurses: a pilot study. Int J Nurs Pract. 2015;21(6):847–857. doi: 10.1111/ijn.12330. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 134.Sahraian A, Fazelzadeh A, Mehdizadeh AR, Toobaee SH. Burnout in hospital nurses: a comparison of internal, surgery, psychiatry and burns wards. Int Nurs Rev. 2008;55(1):62–67. doi: 10.1111/j.1466-7657.2007.00582.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 135.Shahriari M, Shamali M, Yazdannik A. The relationship between fixed and rotating shifts with job burnout in nurses working in critical care areas. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res. 2014;19(4):360–365. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 136.Shamali M, Shahriari M, Babaii A, Abbasinia M. Comparative study of job burnout among critical care nurses with fixed and rotating shift schedules. Nurs Midwifery Stud. 2015;4(3):e27766. doi: 10.17795/nmsjournal27766. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 137.Sorour AS, El-Maksoud MM. Relationship between musculoskeletal disorders, job demands, and burnout among emergency nurses. Adv Emerg Nurs J. 2012;34(3):272–282. doi: 10.1097/TME.0b013e31826211e1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 138.Soroush F, Zargham-Boroujeni A, Namnabati M. The relationship between nurses' clinical competence and burnout in neonatal intensive care units. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res. 2016;21(4):424–429. doi: 10.4103/1735-9066.185596. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 139.Taleghani F, Ashouri E, Saburi M. Empathy, burnout, demographic variables and their relationships in oncology nurses. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res. 2017;22(1):41–45. doi: 10.4103/ijnmr.IJNMR_66_16. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 140.Tekindal B, Tekindal MA, Pinar G, Ozturk F, Alan S. Nurses' burnout and unmet nursing care needs of patients' relatives in a Turkish state hospital. Int J Nurs Pract. 2012;18(1):68–76. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-172X.2011.01989.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 141.Topbas E, Bay H, Turan BB, Citlak U, Emir AH, Erdogan TK, et al. The effect of perceived organisational justice on job satisfaction and burnout levels of haemodialysis nurses. J Ren Care. 2019. [DOI] [PubMed]
  • 142.Tuna R, Baykal U. The relationship between job stress and burnout levels of oncology nurses. Asia Pac J Oncol Nurs. 2014;1(1):33–39. doi: 10.4103/2347-5625.135818. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 143.Yousefy AR, Ghassemi GR. Job burnout in psychiatric and medical nurses in Isfahan, Islamic Republic of Iran. East Mediterr Health J. 2006;12(5):662–669. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 144.Abarghouei MR, Sorbi MH, Abarghouei M, Bidaki R, Yazdanpoor S. A study of job stress and burnout and related factors in the hospital personnel of Iran. Electron Physician. 2016;8(7):2625–2632. doi: 10.19082/2625. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 145.Abdo SA, El-Sallamy RM, El-Sherbiny AA, Kabbash IA. Burnout among physicians and nursing staff working in the emergency hospital of Tanta University, Egypt. East Mediterr Health J. 2016;21(12):906–915. doi: 10.26719/2015.21.12.906. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 146.Alacacioglu A, Yavuzsen T, Dirioz M. Oztop l, Yilmaz U. burnout in nurses and physicians working at an oncology department. Psycho Oncol. 2009;18(5):543–548. doi: 10.1002/pon.1432. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 147.Alameddine M, Kazzi A, El-Jardali F, Dimassi H, Maalouf S. Occupational violence at Lebanese emergency departments: prevalence, characteristics and associated factors. J Occup Health. 2011;53(6):455–464. doi: 10.1539/joh.11-0102-OA. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 148.Alameddine M, Saleh S, El-Jardali F, Dimassi H, Mourad Y. The retention of health human resources in primary healthcare centers in Lebanon: a national survey. BMC Health Serv Res. 2012;12:419. doi: 10.1186/1472-6963-12-419. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 149.Alameddine M, Baroud M, Kharroubi S, Hamadeh R, Ammar W, Shoaib H, et al. Investigating the job satisfaction of healthcare providers at primary healthcare centres in Lebanon: a national cross-sectional study. Health Soc Care Comm. 2017;25(6):1805–1816. doi: 10.1111/hsc.12454. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 150.Ashtari Z, Farhady Y, Khodaee MR. Relationship between job burnout and work performance in a sample of Iranian mental health staff. Afr J Psychiatry. 2009;12(1):71–74. doi: 10.4314/ajpsy.v12i1.30282. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 151.Bijari B, Abassi A. Prevalence of burnout syndrome and associated factors among rural health workers (Behvarzes) in South Khorasan. Iran Red Crescent Med J. 2016;18(10):e25390. doi: 10.5812/ircmj.25390. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 152.Calgan Z, Aslan D, Yegenoglu S. Community pharmacists' burnout levels and related factors: an example from Turkey. Int J Clin Pharm. 2011;33(1):92–100. doi: 10.1007/s11096-010-9461-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 153.Demirci S, Yildirim YK, Ozsaran Z, Uslu R, Yalman D, Aras AB. Evaluation of burnout syndrome in oncology employees. Med Oncol. 2010;27(3):968–974. doi: 10.1007/s12032-009-9318-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 154.Devebakan N, Dogan O, Ceylan V, Akin E, Kose S. Relationship between temperament and character dimensions of personality and burnout and management in healthcare organization workers. Psychiatry Clin Psychopharmacol. 2018;28(1):73–79. doi: 10.1080/24750573.2017.1403712. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  • 155.Gökçen C, Zengin S, Oktay MM, Alpak G, Al B, Yıldırım C. Burnout, job satisfaction and depression in the healthcare personnel who work in the emergency department. Anadolu Psikiyatri Dergisi. 2013;14(2):122–128. doi: 10.5455/apd.36379. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  • 156.Gulalp B, Karcioglu O, Sari A, Koseoglu Z. Burnout: need help? J Occup Med Toxicol. 2008;3:32. doi: 10.1186/1745-6673-3-32. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 157.Guveli H, Anuk D, Oflaz S, Guveli ME, Yildirim NK, Ozkan M, et al. Oncology staff: burnout, job satisfaction and coping with stress. Psycho Oncol. 2015;24(8):926–931. doi: 10.1002/pon.3743. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 158.Hamdan M, Hamra AA. Burnout among workers in emergency Departments in Palestinian hospitals: prevalence and associated factors. BMC Health Serv Res. 2017;17(1):407. doi: 10.1186/s12913-017-2356-3. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 159.Hosseiniarzfuni SM, Gorji AMH, Ranjabar M, Giorji RH, Rostamnejad M. Job burnout among technicians and nurses of northern Iran. Eur J Ther. 2015;21(2):114–117. [Google Scholar]
  • 160.Kabir MJ, Heidari A, Etemad K, Gashti AB, Jafari N, Honarvar MR, et al. Job burnout, job satisfaction, and related factors among health Care Workers in Golestan Province Iran. Electron Physician. 2016;8(9):2924–2930. doi: 10.19082/2924. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 161.Komur I, Ozdemirel RO, Ozver I, Baspinar B, Demir M, Gonen F, et al. Posttraumatic stress and burnout symptoms in forensic doctors and staff in a mortuary. Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 2017;38(3):184–188. doi: 10.1097/PAF.0000000000000329. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 162.Malakouti SK, Nojomi M, Salehi M, Bijari B. Job stress and burnout syndrome in a sample of rural health workers, behvarzes, in Tehran, Iran. Iran J Psychiatry. 2011;6(2):70–74. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 163.Tarcan M, Hikmet N, Schooley B, Top M, Tarcan GY. An analysis of the relationship between burnout, socio-demographic and workplace factors and job satisfaction among emergency department health professionals. Appl Nurs Res. 2017;34:40–47. doi: 10.1016/j.apnr.2017.02.011. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 164.Tekin A, Karadag H, Yayla S. The relationship between burnout symptoms and type D personality among health care professionals in Turkey. Arch Environ Occup Health. 2017;72(3):173–177. doi: 10.1080/19338244.2016.1179168. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 165.Tunc T, Kutanis RO. Role conflict, role ambiguity, and burnout in nurses and physicians at a university hospital in Turkey. Nurs Health Sci. 2009;11(4):410–416. doi: 10.1111/j.1442-2018.2009.00475.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 166.Al-Alawi M, Al-Sinawi H, Al-Qubtan A, Al-Lawati J, Al-Habsi A, Al-Shuraiqi M, et al. Prevalence and determinants of burnout syndrome and depression among medical students at Sultan Qaboos University: a cross-sectional analytical study from Oman. Arch Environ Occup Health. 2017:1–10. [DOI] [PubMed]
  • 167.Almalki SA, Almojali AI, Alothman AS, Masuadi EM, Alaqeel MK. Burnout and its association with extracurricular activities among medical students in Saudi Arabia. Int J Med Educ. 2017;8:144–150. doi: 10.5116/ijme.58e3.ca8a. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 168.Altannir Y, Alnajjar W, Ahmad SO, Altannir M, Yousuf F, Obeidat A, et al. Assessment of burnout in medical undergraduate students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. BMC Med Educ. 2019;19(1):34. doi: 10.1186/s12909-019-1468-3. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 169.Ebrahimi S, Atazadeh F. Medical Students' occupational burnout and its relationship with professionalism. J Adv Med Educ Prof. 2018;6(4):162–167. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 170.Fares J, Saadeddin Z, Al Tabosh H, Aridi H, El Mouhayyar C, Koleilat MK, et al. Extracurricular activities associated with stress and burnout in preclinical medical students. J Epidemiol Glob Health. 2016;6(3):177–185. doi: 10.1016/j.jegh.2015.10.003. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 171.Talih F, Daher M, Daou D, Ajaltouni J. Examining burnout, depression, and attitudes regarding drug use among Lebanese medical students during the 4 years of medical school. Acad Psychiatry. 2018;42(2):288–296. doi: 10.1007/s40596-017-0879-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 172.Sevencan F, Cayir E, Uner S. Burnout status of interns and associated factors. Cah Sociol Demogr Med. 2010;50(4):501–515. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 173.Fares J, Al Tabosh H, Saadeddin Z, El Mouhayyar C, Aridi H. Stress, burnout and coping strategies in preclinical medical students. N Am J Med Sci. 2016;8(2):75–81. doi: 10.4103/1947-2714.177299. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 174.Kristensen TS, Borritz M, Villadsen E, Christensen KB. The Copenhagen burnout inventory: a new tool for the assessment of burnout. Work Stress. 2005;19(3):192–207. doi: 10.1080/02678370500297720. [DOI] [Google Scholar]

Associated Data

This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article.

Supplementary Materials

12889_2019_7713_MOESM1_ESM.docx (21.2KB, docx)

Additional file 1: Table S1. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

12889_2019_7713_MOESM2_ESM.docx (14.3KB, docx)

Additional file 2: Table S2. Database terms of search.

12889_2019_7713_MOESM3_ESM.docx (113.4KB, docx)

Additional file 3: Table S3. Quality assessment based on modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale of studies on burnout among physicians in the Middle East (N = 54).

12889_2019_7713_MOESM4_ESM.docx (22.3KB, docx)

Additional file 4: Table S4. Quality assessment based on modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale of studies on burnout among nurses in the Middle East (N = 53).

12889_2019_7713_MOESM5_ESM.docx (17.9KB, docx)

Additional file 5: Table S5. Quality assessment based on the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale on burnout among healthcare workers in the Middle East (N = 22).

12889_2019_7713_MOESM6_ESM.docx (15.8KB, docx)

Additional file 6: Table S6. Quality assessment based on the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale on burnout among midwives, medical and nursing students in the Middle East(N = 7).

Data Availability Statement

Not applicable.


Articles from BMC Public Health are provided here courtesy of BMC

RESOURCES