An Analytical Study on Antecedents of Occupational Stress & Burnout Among Veterinary Practitioners in India

Abstract

Purpose: This article seeks to identify key determinants of occupational stress as well as burnout among veterinary practitioners in India. This work also aimed to evaluate the level of association of these factors with the occupational stress of veterinary practitioners.

Research Methodology: This descriptive study was conducted using a purposive sampling method. Data was collected from veterinary professionals in rural, semi-urban as well as urban areas in Uttar Pradesh & Bihar. A sample of 870 veterinary professionals was included in this study. Data collection was conducted both online and offline mode using structured survey questions. The authors calculated the reliability coefficient using IBM SPSS version 20 and path analysis was done using AMOS software.

Findings: The findings of this study demonstrated that all statement averages are higher than the mean, indicating that respondents generally agreed with the questionnaire's statements. The association of the endogenous variable (Occupational Stress and Burnout) with all exogenous variables was high (Administrative & Quantitative workload, Work Relationships, Job conditions, Resource Availability, Occupational Risks).

Practical implications: The findings of this study are crucial for Animal husbandry departments, veterinary hospital administration, the Indian government, and healthcare policymakers to develop strategies for the well-being of animals and veterinary staff, even though they are more applicable in developing environments. This is essential for developing strategies and interventions to enhance the performance of veterinary practitioners.

Originality/value: In today’s environment, the stress levels of veterinary practitioners are constantly rising as the number of animal patients are increasing due to different critical diseases. The government, the healthcare industry, the animal welfare industry and hospital administration can all learn from this study and create policies to improve the health of veterinary practitioners.