Understanding Mental Burnout in Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun: Prevalence and Coping Mechanisms among Healthcare Professionals

Abstract

Burnout is a significant and growing concern among healthcare professionals at Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun (HRPB), with doctors, nurses, and pharmacists particularly affected by high-stress demands. Burnout not only impacts the mental health and well-being of these professionals but also affects the quality of patient care, leading to issues such as medical errors, reduced productivity, and high staff turnover. Addressing burnout requires a comprehensive understanding of the factors contributing to it, as well as the coping mechanisms used by healthcare workers to manage this condition. Without this knowledge, it is challenging to design effective interventions that support mental health in high-pressure healthcare environments. The aim of this study is to examine the prevalence, associated factors and coping strategies related to burnout among healthcare professionals at HRPB. Methods: An analytic observational method with a cross-sectional design was employed, gathering data through online and printed questionnaires. Participants were recruited using non-probability convenience and snowball sampling methods. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the prevalence and coping mechanisms of burnout, while Pearson’s Chi-Square and inferential statistics identified associations between burnout and demographic factors such as age, gender, and educational background, with a significance level set at p-value < 0.05.  The study found a moderate prevalence of burnout (54.7%) among healthcare professionals at HRPB, with personal and work factors (81.9%) and patient-related factors (85.5%) as the most frequent contributors. Among coping mechanisms, religion was the most frequently utilised strategy, suggesting its prominent role in resilience building.  Burnout is moderately prevalent among healthcare professionals at HRPB and is significantly influenced by socio-demographic factors, such as age and professional status. Religion plays a primary role as a coping mechanism, pointing to the importance of spiritual support in mitigating burnout. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions and training programmes within government institutions to support mental health, improve job satisfaction, and reduce burnout among healthcare professionals.