Burnout among primary care physicians in Jos-Plateau, north-central Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Developing countries health systems are bedeviled with numerous challenges including resource scarcity, high workload, unfavourable working conditions, Physical and Psychosocial stress. The Aim of this study was to assess the burden of burnout among primary care physicians working in such challenging environments with some level of postgraduate training programs.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of primary care physicians was carried out using a Maslach Burnout Inventory human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) tool. Information was also collected about lifestyle and other demographic data. MBI-HSS scores were analysed in three dimensions of emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP) and personal accomplishment (PA).

Results: two hundred and twenty questionnaires were distributed and 155 were returned giving a response rate of 70.5%. In all, 54 doctors representing 34.8% (95% CI 27.4-42.9%) of the sample had high burnout in at least one of the three dimensions. There was statistically significant difference in the proportion of doctors with high burnout in the State Specialist Hospital when compared to those working in the Teaching Hospital (X² 4.42; P =0.03). In respect of the three dimensions; 21.6% (33) of doctors scored high for DP (95% CI = 15.3 -28.91%), 15% (23) scored high for PA (95% CI = 9.8 -21.7%), 13.6% (21) for EE (95% CI = 8.6 -20.1%), a pattern that is the usually observed in burnout seen in academic work places. Having an excellent or good self-reported perceived health status was significantly associated with lower risk of developing high burn out (X² 15.6; df 2, P < 0.01).

Conclusion: Burnout is common among primary care physicians in this study and it is associated with the nature and type of working environment. Self-reported perceived health status of excellent or good health was associated with lower risk of high burnout.

Keywords: Burnout, Primary Care Physicians, Perceived Health Status