Lombardo Claudia, Capasso Emanuele, Li Rosi Giuseppe, Salerno Monica, Chisari Mario, Esposito Massimiliano, Di Mauro Lucio, Sessa Francesco
Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95121 Catania, Italy.
Department of Advanced Biomedical Science-Legal Medicine Section, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy.
Healthcare (Basel). 2024 Oct 12;12(20):2032. doi: 10.3390/healthcare12202032.
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Burnout and occupational stress are significant issues among forensic professionals, impacting their well-being and job performance. This systematic review aims to provide an up-to-date overview of the occupational stress and burnout experienced by forensic personnel, exploring the profound and multifaceted impact on their physical, mental, professional, and interpersonal well-being.
A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines using Scopus and WOS databases to search for articles published from 1 January 2000 to 31 August 2024. The search used keywords related to burnout and forensic professions. Inclusion criteria were original articles in English and French, while reviews, book chapters, editorials, and notes were excluded. A total of 10 studies were included after eliminating duplicates and excluding irrelevant articles.
The review identified seven key findings. (1) High levels of occupational stress and burnout among forensic personnel necessitate effective stress management strategies and resilience training; (2) autopsy technicians in Romania experience burnout and alexithymia, particularly related to traumatic events involving children, highlighting the need for specialized support systems; (3) disparities in burnout and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms were observed in autopsy technicians and resident doctors, suggesting tailored mental health resources; (4) organizational factors, such as peer support and compensation satisfaction, significantly impact burnout and secondary traumatic stress (STS) among sexual assault nurse examiners; (5) burnout among forensic physicians, both in Romania and Egypt, is linked to personality traits, job satisfaction, and socio-demographic factors; (6) pathologists face a range of health issues, including musculoskeletal problems and psychological disorders, underscoring the need for industry-specific health measures; and (7) the lack of wellness resources for forensic professionals calls for improved mental health support and training.
The findings highlight the pervasive issue of burnout and stress among forensic professionals globally. Addressing these challenges requires comprehensive stress management programs, tailored mental health resources, and organizational support. Future research should focus on developing and implementing effective interventions to enhance resilience and job satisfaction within this high-stress field.
背景/目的：职业倦怠和职业压力是法医专业人员面临的重大问题，影响着他们的幸福感和工作表现。本系统评价旨在提供法医人员职业压力和职业倦怠的最新概况，探讨其对身体、心理、职业和人际关系幸福感的深远而多方面的影响。
按照PRISMA指南进行系统评价，使用Scopus和WOS数据库检索2000年1月1日至2024年8月31日发表的文章。检索使用了与职业倦怠和法医专业相关的关键词。纳入标准为英文和法文的原创文章，而综述、书籍章节、社论和笔记被排除。在消除重复和排除无关文章后，共纳入10项研究。
该评价确定了七个主要发现。（1）法医人员中高水平的职业压力和职业倦怠需要有效的压力管理策略和复原力培训；（2）罗马尼亚的尸检技术人员经历职业倦怠和述情障碍，特别是与涉及儿童的创伤事件有关，这突出了对专门支持系统的需求；（3）在尸检技术人员和住院医生中观察到职业倦怠和创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）症状的差异，这表明需要量身定制的心理健康资源；（4）组织因素，如同伴支持和薪酬满意度，对性侵犯护士检查员的职业倦怠和继发性创伤压力（STS）有显著影响；（5）罗马尼亚和埃及的法医医生的职业倦怠与人格特质、工作满意度和社会人口因素有关；（6）病理学家面临一系列健康问题，包括肌肉骨骼问题和心理障碍，这凸显了针对该行业的健康措施的必要性；（7）法医专业人员缺乏健康资源，需要改善心理健康支持和培训。
研究结果凸显了全球法医专业人员中普遍存在的职业倦怠和压力问题。应对这些挑战需要全面的压力管理计划、量身定制的心理健康资源和组织支持。未来的研究应侧重于开发和实施有效的干预措施，以增强这个高压力领域的复原力和工作满意度。
