Document 0308
 DOCN  M9590308
 TI    Burnout amongst HIV/AIDS health service providers--easy to catch, not so
       easy to treat!
 DT    9509
 AU    Cass V
 SO    Annu Conf Australas Soc HIV Med. 1994 Nov 3-6;6:196 (unnumbered
       abstract). Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ASHM6/95291791
 AB    Burnout is a debilitating reaction to severe work stress which is
       commonly found amongst human service providers. Left undetected and/or
       untreated, it can result in psychological and physical symptoms such as
       emotional and physical exhaustion, withdrawal from others and poor
       decision-making ability. Reactions such as these can create problems for
       anyone working with people with AIDS and reduce the quality of service
       provided. However, in the HIV/AIDS area, burnout is given little
       attention by human service workers or their managers. The condition is
       often perceived by HIV/AIDS organisational culture as indicative of the
       service provider not being strong enough to cope rather than any problem
       within the organisation. Since treatment of burnout may require leaving
       work for up to twelve months, such attitudes represent poor human
       resource practice. This paper addresses burnout as a serious clinical
       condition with specific reference to its expression in the area of
       palliative care. The presentation will be a practical one aimed at
       helping HIV/AIDS workers recognise the need to take burnout seriously.
       Causes and symptoms will be identified and forms of treatment discussed.
 DE    Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*PSYCHOLOGY/THERAPY  Adaptation,
       Psychological  Burnout, Professional/*DIAGNOSIS/PSYCHOLOGY/THERAPY
       Human  HIV Infections/*PSYCHOLOGY/THERAPY  Organizational Culture
       *Patient Care Team  MEETING ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).