Burnout among family physicians in Turkey: A comparison of two different primary care systems.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of burnout syndrome and associated factors among family physicians before and after family medicine system (FMS). The first part of the study was conducted in 2008 (pre-FMS) and the second part in 2012 (post-FMS). Physician's burnout was investigated by using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). In total, 139 physicians had been participating pre-FMS and 246 physician's post-FMS. The mean pre-FMS emotional exhaustion score was 15.7 ± 5.8, increasing significantly to 17.14 ± 7.5 post-FMS (P = 0.045). Mean pre-FMS and post-FMS depersonalization and reduced personal accomplishment scores were similar (P > 0.05). Age was negatively correlated with depersonalization in this study (P = 0.012) and positively correlated with personal accomplishment (P = 0.001). The primary care physicians in the post-FMS period were older, female physicians had a greater preference for primary care, and the levels of married doctors were higher. In addition, a higher level of physicians also owned their own home and cars compared to the pre-FMS period. A negative correlation has been reported between physicians' burnout levels and home or car ownership in the present study. Our findings suggest that physicians working under the family medicine system, a new primary care model, are at greater risk of emotional exhaustion, but that no change has occurred in terms of personal accomplishment or depersonalization, despite this new system.