Factors associated with the burnout syndrome among professionals in pharmaceutical manufacturing industry and marketing 1234

• Main Authors: Jovanović Vesna R., Krajnović Dušanka, Mihajlović Goran, Marinković Valentina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Medicinsko društvo za racionalnu terapiju Republike Srbije 2017-01-01
• Series: Racionalna Terapija
• Subjects: burnout syndrome; assertiveness; pharmaceutical manufacturing industry and drug marketing
• Online Access: http://scindeks-clanci.ceon.rs/data/pdf/1821-0538/2017/1821-05381702013J.pdf

Certain authors describe some professions in the healthcare industry as the more susceptible ones to developing a burnout syndrome, while others suggest psychosocial aspects of the workplace as the primary cause in its creation, but not the aspects of the job itself. The main objective of the research was to investigate which specific factors were associated with the burnout syndrome among professionals working in pharmaceutical manufacturing industry and marketing. The study was conducted in June of 2016 as a cross-sectional study and it included 75 university educated professionals from the area of pharmaceutical industry and marketing employed in several local as well as internationally renowned pharmaceutical companies located in Belgrade. The participants were surveyed anonymously. The instruments used in the study were: a general socio-demographic questionnaire, an assertiveness self-evaluation questionnaire and the Maslach Burnout Inventory. An analysis of the responses in the burnout syndrome self-evaluation questionnaires showed that the highest level of burnout was expressed through reduced personal accomplishment (53%). The average assertiveness scores were the lowest in the individuals who demonstrated the highest level of emotional exhaustion (p=0.003), depersonalization (p=0.004), and the highest inefficiency on professional accomplishment scale (p=0.001). A statistically significant difference was observed in frequency and extent of emotional exhaustion with respect to respondents' gender (x2=10.779; p<0.05), as well as the line of business (x2=6.493; p<0.05). Levels of depersonalization are influenced by: line of work (x2=5.393; p<0.05), age (p=0.004), total years of service (p=0.009) and years of service in the profession (p=0.006). A sense of reduced personal accomplishment is influenced by a respondents' profession (x2=10.922; p<0.05) and line of business (x2=7.283; p<0.05). The results obtained in this study might help in identifying groups at risk for developing the burnout among the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry and drug marketing professionals. They might also assist in better assessing of the significance of interpersonal interactions between the employees for the purpose of planning the measures for the burnout prevention.