| Summary: | The concept of Physician Burnout emerged in the 1960s. Over the last six decades or so, it has been recognized as a worldwide phenomenon. This brief review presents the evolution of the concept, risk factors, epidemiology, clinical manifestations, assessment, prevention, and management of physician burnout. Available data suggest that different theoretical models have been proposed and evaluated to understand the emergence of burnout at the workplace. The risk factors for the development of burnout can be understood as personal and organizational factors and interaction of these factors, determine the final experience of burnout. The incidence of burnout among medical professionals is generally reported to be higher than other professionals, and high rates of burnout are seen across all the stages of medical career, i.e., medical students, interns, postgraduates, and practicing physicians. There are some data to suggest rising trend in the prevalence of burnout among physicians. The common signs and symptoms of burnout include anger, irritability, impatience, increased absenteeism, decreased productivity, and decreased quality of care. However, many authors have categorized the symptoms into different stage models. Burnout among physicians is associated with multitude of negative consequences for the physicians, and patients, and the health-care system. Available data suggest that it is important to recognize burnout at the earliest and use preventive strategies for emergence of the same. At present, there are no clear-cut guidelines for the management of burnout, but some of the individual-level interventions, which are thought to be helpful for burnout, include cognitive-behavioral techniques, meditation and relaxation techniques, development of interpersonal skills, and development of knowledge and work-related skills. In addition to this, various interventions carried out at the level of organization and the physician–organization interface have also been proposed to address physician burnout.
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