Psychological Burnout and its Relationship with Occupational Adjustment among Doctors and Nurses at the National Oncology Center in Aden Governorate

Abstract

The medical profession is one of the careers rooted in social relations, helping others, interacting with them, and saving their lives. Those who practice this profession are often characterized by commitment and dedication. In addition to stressful working conditions, these individuals operate under an internal pressure to give. Concurrently, they face external variables beyond their control that diminish their effectiveness in performing their duties in a manner that reflects their personal motivation (Askar, 2000). A number of studies in this field have shown that medical professionals are among the most susceptible to psychological stress, experiencing high levels of anxiety and depression compared to workers in other occupations. This susceptibility stems from their continuous handling of critical cases, pressure from patients' families, and intense discussions within the healthcare team (Sabira & Ismail, 2015: 105(.

Furthermore, the outbreak of viruses and infectious diseases targets doctors in the first place, as they are the frontline and most frequent handlers of patients, making them highly vulnerable to infection. A prime example is the spread of the COVID-19 virus, which emerged in 2020 and continues to spread and mutate. Consequently, these encountered factors induce a level of occupational and psychological stress that affects them both psychologically and socially. It also hinders their ability to practice their profession normally, which subsequently disrupts the regular course of patient care in hospitals, leading to nursing negligence and workplace absenteeism (Al-Shafei, 2002). Therefore, the researcher seeks in this study to examine the degree of psychological burnout and occupational adjustment among doctors and nurses at the National Oncology Center in Aden Governorate.