Burden of Burnout Syndrome among Emergency Physicians in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Abstract

Burnout syndrome among healthcare professionals, particularly emergency physicians, is a significant global concern. In Saudi Arabia, high healthcare demands exacerbate this issue, leading to reduced care quality, lower patient satisfaction, and increased medical errors. This meta-analysis assessed the prevalence of burnout components, including high emotional exhaustion, high depersonalization, and low personal accomplishment, among emergency physicians in Saudi Arabia. A systematic search of databases identified six cross-sectional studies, with pooled estimates calculated using random-effects models. The findings revealed that 57.6% of emergency physicians experienced high emotional exhaustion, 42.8% reported high depersonalization, and 55.0% had low personal accomplishment, with overall burnout prevalence at 38.1%. The results highlight the urgent need for interventions focusing on workload management and supportive environments to improve physician well-being and healthcare quality.