Levels of burnout and their associated factors among physicians working in Northeast Anatolia

Abstract

Context: The concept of burnout is a condition seen in occupational groups working face‑to‑face with people and resulting in emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and low professional productivity.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to determine burnout levels and associated factors in physicians practicing in Erzurum, Northeast Anatolia, Turkey.

Settings and Design: This research was designed as a cross‑sectional descriptive study. The research sample size was calculated at 663 participants with a 99% confidence interval and a 3% margin of error using Epi Info software. A 10% incomplete or nonresponse rate was added, for a target cohort of 730 individuals. Seven hundred and eleven physicians agreeing to take part were enrolled.

Subjects and Methods: A questionnaire consisting of questions concerning sociodemographic characteristics and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) was used as the data collection tool. The questionnaires were distributed by the authors and completed by the physicians in person.

Statistical Analysis: Descriptive data were expressed as percentage, mean, median, and standard deviation. Data were analyzed using the Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U tests and binary logistic regression analysis. P < 0.05 was regarded as statistically significant. Statistical analyses were performed on SPSS 15.00 software.

Results: The mean age of the physicians in the study was 34.4 ± 7.7 years. Mean MBI subdimension scores were 15.6 ± 7.0 for emotional exhaustion, 5.7 ± 3.9 for depersonalization, and 21.0 ± 4.4 for personal accomplishment. Mean emotional exhaustion and depersonalization scores were significantly higher and personal accomplishment scores significantly lower in physicians aged under 25, not taking vacations, working in public hospitals, who were working as research assistants.

Conclusions: Burnout levels among the participants were low (emotional exhaustion in 75%, depersonalization in 76.2%, and low personal accomplishment in 69.6%).

Keywords: Burnout, Maslach Burnout Inventory, occupational stress, physicians