Interventions to Reduce Job Stress and Burnout in Health Professionals: A Systematic Review

https://doi.org/10.5935/rpot/e26936

Abstract

The prevention of psychosocial risks at work, and their consequences for healthcare professionals, with particular attention to burnout syndrome, is a priority in the field of occupational health that must be addressed in Spain. The aim of this study was to analyse the effectiveness of psychological and psychosocial interventions carried out with nurses and physicians for the prevention. A systematic review of the literature was conducted by searching the ProQuest, PubMed and Web of Science databases, including studies published in English, Spanish, or Portuguese between January 2015 and September 2024. A total of 39 articles were selected after the application of the eligibility criteria. The identified studies employed intervention strategies directed at individuals, either to train them in managing psychosocial risks at work or to help them cope with their consequences. Within this group, the most common type of intervention was mindfulness (n = 16). In contrast, one study employed strategies aimed at modifying working conditions, specifically through workload redesign. Both types of strategies are effective in addressing work-related stress and burnout. However, interventions designed to modify individuals’ health behaviours may represent a reactive strategy to occupational stress, effective in the short term, whereas organisational change is likely to be far more proactive in promoting occupational health in the long term.