Artificial Intelligence -Based Apps to Manage Occupational Stress and Burnout: Scoping Review

Stress and burnout among healthcare workers represent a global crisis with significant implications for psychological and physical health, job performance, and interpersonal skills. These conditions are linked to anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, substance use, poor quality of life, digestive disorders, and cardiovascular diseases. Burnout is characterized by emotional fatigue, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment, often caused by chronic workplace stress. Factors such as demographics, fatigue, and resilience influence its development and severity. Traditional stress management interventions, such as counselling and leave, often prove insufficient in addressing these challenges. Recent advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) provide innovative tools for stress and burnout management, including mobile applications offering mindfulness, meditation, and self-care resources. AI systems like IBM Watson and Google DeepMind are being tested to enhance accessibility and effectiveness in stress management. Additionally, Stress Inoculation Training (SIT), involving methods such as meditation, yoga, cognitive-behavioural therapy, and biofeedback, has been recognized as a proactive approach to mitigating stress. This review explores the factors contributing to stress and burnout in healthcare workers and evaluates interventions aimed at improving well-being and productivity, emphasizing the potential of AI and SIT in preventing and managing these conditions.