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. 2019 Nov 29;57(6):745-752.
doi: 10.2486/indhealth.2018-0159. Epub 2019 Feb 27.

Burnout syndrome in Europe: towards a harmonized approach in occupational health practice and research

Irina Guseva Canu  1 , Olivia Mesot  1 , Christina Györkös  1 , Zakia Mediouni  1 , Ingrid Sivesind Mehlum  2 , Merete Drevvatne Bugge  2
Affiliations

Burnout syndrome in Europe: towards a harmonized approach in occupational health practice and research

Irina Guseva Canu et al. Ind Health. .

Abstract

Health practitioners and decision makers in the medical and insurance systems need knowledge on the work-relatedness of burnout. To gather the most reliable information regarding burnout diagnosis and recognition in Europe, we used an 8-item standard questionnaire sent by e-mail to occupational health specialists identified via the Network on the Coordination and Harmonization of European Occupational Cohorts (OMEGA-NET) within the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action. Participation rate was 100%, and the questionnaire was completed for 37 countries. In 14 (38%) countries burnout syndrome can be acknowledged as an occupational disease. However, only one country included burnout on the list of occupational diseases. The results showed a high variability in burnout diagnosis, in assessment of its work-relatedness, and in conditions allowing compensation of patients. These results reflect a lack of graded evidence on burnout and its determinants. The ongoing research on burnout conducted in the frame of the OMEGA-NET COST Action should be helpful through facilitating standardization of both existing and new data on burnout, a priority outcome requiring harmonization.

Keywords: Burnout; Diagnosis; Epidemiology; Harmonization; Occupation; Work-relatedness.

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