PT Journal AU Guseva Canu, I Marca, SC Dell'Oro, F Balázs, Bergamaschi, E Besse, C Bianchi, R Bislimovska, J Koscec Bjelajac, A Bugge, M Busneag, CI Çağlayan, Cernițanu, M Costa Pereira, C Dernovšček Hafner, N Droz, N Eglite, M Godderis, L Gündel, H Hakanen, JJ Iordache, RM Khireddine-Medouni, I Kiran, S Larese-Filon, F Lazor-Blanchet, C Légeron, P Loney, T Majery, N Merisalu, E Mehlum, IS Michaud, L Mijakoski, D Minov, J Modenese, A Molan, M van der Molen, H Nena, E Nolimal, D Otelea, M Pletea, E Pranjic, N Rebergen, D Reste, J Schernhammer, E Wahlen, A TI Harmonized definition of occupational burnout: A systematic review, semantic analysis, and Delphi consensus in 29 countries SO Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health PD 3VL PY 2021 BP 95 EP 107 IS 2 DI 10.5271/sjweh.3935 WP https://www.sjweh.fi/show_abstract.php?abstract_id=3935 DE Delphi consensus; epidemiology; exhaustion; job stress; occupational burnout; occupational health; semantic analysis; systematic review SN 0355-3140 AB '

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OBJECTIVE ': 'A consensual definition of occupational burnout is currently lacking. We aimed to harmonize the definition of occupational burnout as a health outcome in medical research and reach a consensus on this definition within the Network on the Coordination and Harmonisation of European Occupational Cohorts (OMEGA-NET).

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METHODS ': 'First, we performed a systematic review in MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Embase (January 1990 to August 2018) and a semantic analysis of the available definitions. We used the definitions of burnout and burnout-related concepts from the Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine Clinical Terms (SNOMED-CT) to formulate a consistent harmonized definition of the concept. Second, we sought to obtain the Delphi consensus on the proposed definition.

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RESULTS ': 'We identified 88 unique definitions of burnout and assigned each of them to 1 of the 11 original definitions. The semantic analysis yielded a first proposal, further reformulated according to SNOMED-CT and the panelists` comments as follows: "In a worker, occupational burnout or occupational physical AND emotional exhaustion state is an exhaustion due to prolonged exposure to work-related problems”. A panel of 50 experts (researchers and healthcare professionals with an interest for occupational burnout) reached consensus on this proposal at the second round of the Delphi, with 82% of experts agreeing on it.

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CONCLUSION ': 'This study resulted in a harmonized definition of occupational burnout approved by experts from 29 countries within OMEGA-NET. Future research should address the reproducibility of the Delphi consensus in a larger panel of experts, representing more countries, and examine the practicability of the definition.

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