Why So Cynical? The Effect of Job Burnout as a Mediator on the Relationship Between Perceived Organizational Support and Organizational Cynicism

The current study represents a noteworthy step towards a better understanding of how perceived organizational support influences burnout and cynicism of healthcare staff. It explores whether perceived organizational support reduces job burnout and organizational cynicism and whether job burnout plays a mediating role in the relationship between POS and organizational cynicism. Data were collected from 211 personnel working in the healthcare industry in Saudi Arabia. Findings indicate that a high level of perceived organizational support ameliorates the experienced burnout symptoms, and allay cynical attitudes, emotions, and behaviors at work. The study also unfolds that burnout is mediating the relationship between POS and organizational cynicism, which highlights the importance of properly managing burnout. The study suggested that healthcare organizations should imperatively provide the necessary organizational support wherever and whenever it is needed and utilize the appropriate interventions to minimize the effects of burnout and cynicism. This is the first study that analyzed the impact of POS on organizational cynicism through the mediating variable of job burnout, and the first paper that investigates POS, organizational cynicism, and job burnout of healthcare staff in a single study. It adds to the growing body of literature on antecedents of organizational cynicism, job burnout, and POS as a mean to reduce negative workplace phenomena. Keywords: perceived organizational support, job burnout, organizational cynicism, social exchange theory, job demand model, healthcare industry, healthcare staff. DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/13-7-04 Publication date: April 30th 202

Global economic burden of unmet surgical need for appendicitis

Background There is a substantial gap in provision of adequate surgical care in many low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to identify the economic burden of unmet surgical need for the common condition of appendicitis. Methods Data on the incidence of appendicitis from 170 countries and two different approaches were used to estimate numbers of patients who do not receive surgery: as a fixed proportion of the total unmet surgical need per country (approach 1); and based on country income status (approach 2). Indirect costs with current levels of access and local quality, and those if quality were at the standards of high-income countries, were estimated. A human capital approach was applied, focusing on the economic burden resulting from premature death and absenteeism. Results Excess mortality was 4185 per 100 000 cases of appendicitis using approach 1 and 3448 per 100 000 using approach 2. The economic burden of continuing current levels of access and local quality was US $92 492 million using approach 1 and$73 141 million using approach 2. The economic burden of not providing surgical care to the standards of high-income countries was $95 004 million using approach 1 and$75 666 million using approach 2. The largest share of these costs resulted from premature death (97.7 per cent) and lack of access (97.0 per cent) in contrast to lack of quality. Conclusion For a comparatively non-complex emergency condition such as appendicitis, increasing access to care should be prioritized. Although improving quality of care should not be neglected, increasing provision of care at current standards could reduce societal costs substantially

Global economic burden of unmet surgical need for appendicitis

Background There is a substantial gap in provision of adequate surgical care in many low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to identify the economic burden of unmet surgical need for the common condition of appendicitis. Methods Data on the incidence of appendicitis from 170 countries and two different approaches were used to estimate numbers of patients who do not receive surgery: as a fixed proportion of the total unmet surgical need per country (approach 1); and based on country income status (approach 2). Indirect costs with current levels of access and local quality, and those if quality were at the standards of high-income countries, were estimated. A human capital approach was applied, focusing on the economic burden resulting from premature death and absenteeism. Results Excess mortality was 4185 per 100 000 cases of appendicitis using approach 1 and 3448 per 100 000 using approach 2. The economic burden of continuing current levels of access and local quality was US $92 492 million using approach 1 and$73 141 million using approach 2. The economic burden of not providing surgical care to the standards of high-income countries was $95 004 million using approach 1 and$75 666 million using approach 2. The largest share of these costs resulted from premature death (97.7 per cent) and lack of access (97.0 per cent) in contrast to lack of quality. Conclusion For a comparatively non-complex emergency condition such as appendicitis, increasing access to care should be prioritized. Although improving quality of care should not be neglected, increasing provision of care at current standards could reduce societal costs substantially