An Empirical Study of Burnout and its Impact on Patient Care Quality among Healthcare Workers

Healthcare workers are essential to the delivery of safe and effective patient care. However, the increasing workload, emotional stress, and organizational challenges in healthcare environments have led to a growing prevalence of burnout. This study empirically investigates the relationship between burnout and patient care quality among healthcare workers in selected hospitals in India. A structured questionnaire based on the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and the Patient Care Quality Perception Scale was administered to 300 healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses, and paramedics, using stratified random sampling. The findings revealed that emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment were significantly associated with lower patient care quality scores. Regression and correlation analyses confirmed that emotional exhaustion had the strongest negative effect on patient care quality (r = –0.62, p < 0.01). Organizational factors such as staffing adequacy, managerial support, and workload balance significantly influenced burnout levels. The study concludes that mitigating burnout through supportive HR practices, stress management programs, and adequate staffing can substantially improve both employee well-being and patient outcomes.