Background: The unique work environments and responsibilities of healthcare professionals put them at an increased risk of high levels of occupational stress, which can lead to burnout, characterized by exhaustion, detachment, and reduced accomplishment. Pathologists’ assistants are allied health professionals whose primary work is in the pathology laboratory, performing non-patient-facing duties. Much attention and research have focused on occupational stress and burnout in patient-facing healthcare professions, and little is known about occupational stress and burnout in pathologists’ assistants. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the unique experiences of occupational stress and burnout in pathologists’ assistants, examining participants’ perceptions of contributing factors and stress management. Method: A qualitative study using a basic interpretive approach was conducted, in which 12 pathologists’ assistants were recruited to participate in one-on-one, semi-structured interviews via Zoom web conferencing. The data were analyzed through a review of transcripts, notes, and memos to identify overarching themes relating to the experiences of occupational stress and burnout. Results: Four main themes arose regarding occupational stress: workload, physical demands, interpersonal issues, and lack of respect/understanding. In relation to burnout, four additional themes emerged: physical impacts, emotional and interpersonal impacts, potential patient care impacts, and addressing burnout. Discussion and Conclusion: An understanding of the unique stressors and burnout factors for pathologists’ assistants will aid in identifying potential strategies for the prevention and management of these issues.
Keywords: occupational stress, burnout, pathology, pathologists’ assistants