Burnout and its correlates in Saudi family medicine residents: An observational study from Aseer, Saudi Arabia

• Main Authors: Malak Aziz Al-Ghamdi, Shamsun Nahar, Aesha Farheen Siddiqui, Safar Abadi Al-Saleem
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2021-01-01
• Series: Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care
• Subjects: burnout; family medicine residents; occupational stress; saudi arabia
• Online Access: http://www.jfmpc.com/article.asp?issn=2249-4863;year=2021;volume=10;issue=5;spage=1904;epage=1911;aulast=Al-Ghamdi

Background: Burnout is a workplace phenomenon and is high among healthcare workers, particularly physicians. It brings in significant negative impact on patient care and physicians. Considerable number of studies have highlighted burnout issues on residents of other specialties; however, scarcity of data exist on burnout among family medicine residents. Objectives: This study aimed to measure the prevalence of burnout, and its predictors amongst family medicine residents in Aseer region, Saudi Arabia. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 133 family medicine residents using a custom-designed and validated Self administered questionnaire. The Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) was used to measure the three dimensions of burnout: emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalisation (DP) and personal accomplishment (PA). Results: The overall prevalence of burnout was 84.2%. In terms of three dimensions of burnout, 29.3% of respondents scored high for EE burnout, 19.5% for DP and 79.7% for PA. High burnout in all three dimensions was found to be strongly associated with a number of variables under study. Male gender (aOR = 3.41, 95% CI 1.1-11.10; P = 0.042), married residents (aOR = 3.32, 95% CI 1.1-10.48) and use of anti-anxiety drugs (aOR = 3.75,95% CI = 2.0-21.26) were identified as predictors of high emotional exhaustion. A work schedule of more than 8 hours per day (aOR = 3.79, 95% CI 1.12-10.87) and young age (aOR = 2.6, 95% CI 1.12-10.87) were identified predictors for high depersonalisation and low personal accomplishment, respectively. Conclusions: Prevalence of burnout in this study exhibits that it is a common problem in family medicine residents. There is a need for a nationwide longitudinal study targeting the family medicine residents to study the effects of burnout on physician well-being and patient care.