• healthcare Provider Burnout and Patient Safety: A Narrative Review
  • Amirhossein Parang,1 Azadeh Azamian,2,*
    1. Student of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences
    2. Department of Medical Education,Education Development Center, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran


  • Introduction: Burnout is prevalent among healthcare professionals, including medical students, physicians, and nurses. Evidence suggests burnout negatively affects both workforce wellbeing and patient safety. To summarize current literature on the association between burnout and patient safety, including factors such as professionalism and systems thinking.
  • Methods: A narrative review was conducted, including eight recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Databases searched included PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Scopus. Studies examining burnout prevalence, its predictors, and its impact on patient safety outcomes were included.
  • Results: Burnout prevalence among medical students and healthcare professionals ranged from 30–40%, with higher rates in high-stress specialties and younger professionals. Burnout was associated with increased medical errors, adverse events, lower patient satisfaction, and decreased quality of care. Professionalism and systems thinking positively influenced patient safety competency, partially mitigating the effects of burnout. Organizational factors, including workload, communication, and leadership, significantly moderated these outcomes.
  • Conclusion: Burnout is a significant risk factor for reduced patient safety and care quality. Addressing burnout through organizational support, professional development, and systemic interventions is essential. Integrating professionalism and systems thinking into healthcare training and practice may improve both provider wellbeing and patient safety.
  • Keywords: Burnout, Healthcare professionals, Patient safety, Medical errors, Professionalism