Behavioral Troubles for the Newcomer Doctors in the Public Sector Hospitals of Pakistan

The concept of job burnout earned considerable interest of researchers because of its important implications for both individuals and organizations. Using qualitative research methodology, this study has explained the process of job burnout among the post-graduate doctors of the public sector hospitals of Pakistan. The data were collected from 40 post-graduate doctors of eight public sector hospitals in Pakistan using semi-structured interviews. Convenience sampling was used to select the respondents. The data collected suggested that doctors appear to face high level of demand stressors which are the starting point of burnout process. Due to the highly demanding nature of job and responsibility of life saving, doctors begin to feel emotionally exhausted. Due to the absence of supporting behavior from the colleagues and organization, doctors start using depersonalization to cope with the situation on emotional exhaustion. Finally, they begin to feel a diminished sense of personal accomplishment especially when their work environment provides little feedback and few rewards for their work accomplishments. Among few overall qualitative studies on job burnout, this is the only qualitative study conducted in Pakistan to explain the process of job burnout among doctors. This study not only explains the process of job burnout but also provides a way to control the burnout prevalence among the doctors.

 

Keywords - Burnout, Stressors, Emotional Exhaustion, Depersonalization, Personal Accomplishments, Qualitative Research