Burnout Among Healthcare Providers and Its Association with Patient Safety Management: When Exhaustion Breaks Safety

Background Burnout, a pervasive phenomenon among healthcare providers, has been linked to detrimental consequences for both clinicians and patients. Methods This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the prevalence of healthcare providers' burnout and investigate its association with patient safety outcomes. It was conducted at Al Nahda General Hospital in Saudi Arabia from 2023 to 2024. A total of 399 healthcare providers (HCPs) completed an online survey. Burnout was measured using the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI). The primary outcomes were evaluating the prevalence of burnout among HCPs and measuring its association with Patient Safety Management Activities (PSMA). The secondary outcomes were to identify the potential risk factors for burnout. Results Of the study group, 64.4% of HCPs aged 30 to 45 years, 61.2% were physicians, and 50.1% had over 10 years of experience. The prevalence of burnout among them was 41%. HCPs under 30 years old exhibited a significantly lower prevalence of burnout compared to those aged 30 to 45 years (Prevalence ratio (PR) = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.46 to 0.86, p = 0.003). Work schedule played a significant role, with night-shift workers showing a higher prevalence of burnout compared to those on morning shifts (PR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.09 to 1.74, p = 0.007). Respondents experiencing burnout showed a significant increase in the likelihood of being neutral in complying with infection control guidelines (Odds ratio (OR) = 3.78, 95% CI: 1.04 to 13.69, p = 0.04) and a significant decrease in being familiar with standard precautions for preventing the spread of infections (OR = 0.30, 95% CI: 0.11 to 0.82, p = 0.02) compared to those who were not experiencing burnout. HCPs burnout was significantly associated with higher neutral patient involvement in decision-making (OR = 9.69, 95% CI: 2.53 to 37.10, p = 0.001), neutral speaking up about patient safety concerns within teams and departments, and (OR = 3.62, 95% CI: 1.18 to 11.07, p = 0.02). Conclusions Burnout suggests a worrying trend among healthcare providers. It was prevalent among younger staff and night-shifters. It is potentially associated with patient safety practices including lapses in infection control, patient involvement, and safe communication. These findings highlight the importance of addressing provider well-being to ensure optimal patient care. Further research is required to include multiple centers and recommend multi-pronged interventions to mitigate burnout and improve patient safety.