OCCUPATIONAL BURNOUT AMONG RADIOLOGISTS AND RADIOLOGY TECHNICIANS IN SAUDI ARABIA

Background: Occupational burnout (OB) has emerged as a significant challenge for healthcare professionals, including clinical radiologists and radiology technicians. Its deleterious impact on performance, well-being, and patient satisfaction necessitates a thorough understanding of its prevalence and associated factors. This study delves into the OB landscape among clinical radiologists and radiology technicians in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: Employing a cross-sectional design, a sample of 409 clinical radiologists and radiology technicians in Saudi Arabia participated in this study. A self-administered questionnaire, meticulously crafted based on the validated Maslach Burnout Inventory, was utilized to gather data on demographics, burnout levels, and socioeconomic factors. Statistical analysis was meticulously conducted using SPSS Ver.23, with descriptive statistics and Pearson's Chi-square test deployed to identify associations.

Results: The study unveiled a disconcertingly high prevalence of OB among clinical radiologists and radiology technicians, with 44.5% of participants experiencing burnout. A significant association between demographic variables, including gender, age, and job title, and OB levels was elucidated. Factors contributing to OB were identified, encompassing heavy workload, lack of autonomy, inadequate support, and potential occupational hazards like exposure to ionizing radiation.

Conclusion: Despite inherent limitations, this study furnishes valuable insights into the high prevalence of OB and its associated risk factors among clinical radiologists and radiology technicians in Saudi Arabia. The findings underscore the urgent need for healthcare organizations to implement effective interventions to mitigate OB in this professional group. Further research, meticulously designed to identify specific risk factors and develop targeted strategies, is warranted to effectively reduce OB prevalence.

Keywords: Radiologists, Radiology technicians, Occupational burnout, Radiology