Burnout Syndrome in Palliative Care

Abstract

Medical staff are exposed to high levels of stress throughout their careers and are likely to suffer from burnout syndrome, with repercussions not only on themselves but also on patients and the healthcare system. Affected doctors are at increased risk of making wrong decisions, having a hostile attitude towards patients and difficult relationships with co-workers. The most studied measuring instrument in the literature is the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), introduced in 1981. This indicator has become a standard tool for measuring the level of burnout. MBI provides a three-dimensional description of the syndrome, such as emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and lack of professional fulfillment.