1. MALAK MOHAMMED SINJAB - Social Work, National Guard Hospital, Saudi Arabia.
2. GHADAH ABDULLAH ALQASIMI - Social Work, National Guard Hospital, Saudi Arabia.
3. GHADEER KHALED ALSHAREEF - Social Work, National Guard Hospital, Saudi Arabia.
4. MANAL MUTHYIB ALSUBAIE - Social Work, National Guard Hospital, Saudi Arabia.
5. RAWDA ABDULLAH ALMUNTASHIRI - Social Work, National Guard Hospital, Saudi Arabia.
6. FATIMAH FAYEZ ALGHAMDI - Nursing, National Guard Hospital, Saudi Arabia.
7. NOUF HASSAN HARISI - Nursing, National Guard Hospital, Saudi Arabia.
Background: Burnout among healthcare professionals is a widespread concern that threatens both workforce wellbeing and the quality of patient care. Increasing evidence links burnout to negative outcomes including medical errors, patient dissatisfaction, and reduced safety. However, the mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear. This systematic review aimed to explore the relationship between healthcare providers’ burnout and the quality of care delivered, including patient safety outcomes. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for studies published between 2012 and 2021. Eligible studies included original research assessing burnout in healthcare professionals and its association with patient care quality. Data on study design, burnout assessment tools, and quality metrics were extracted and synthesized. Results: Six studies met the inclusion criteria. Findings consistently demonstrated associations between burnout and adverse patient outcomes. Nurse burnout was linked to higher healthcare-associated infections and lower patient satisfaction. Burnout was also associated with increased medical errors among physicians, residents, and pharmacists. Work environment factors such as understaffing, poor leadership, and work-life imbalance were significant contributors to burnout, which in turn negatively influenced job satisfaction and care quality. Additionally, burnout was associated with safety-compromising behaviors among emergency medical staff and increased intention to leave among nurses. Conclusion: The evidence highlights a clear connection between healthcare provider burnout and reduced quality of care. Interventions that address organizational factors—such as adequate staffing, supportive leadership, and structured disclosure systems—may reduce burnout and enhance both provider wellbeing and patient outcomes.
Burnout, Healthcare Quality, Patient Safety, Nurses, Physicians, Medical Errors, Systematic Review.