Abstract
Background: Burnout is a syndrome characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a low sense of personal accomplishment. The aim of this study was to identify burnout incidence in pediatric residents and evaluate possible risk factors for burnout.Methods: Using a cross-sectional study design, we approached all pediatric residents in the Saudi Pediatrics Residency Program in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (n=457) between January and March 2019. The Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey was used to assess burnout incidence. In addition, demographic factors, schedule burden, career choice satisfaction, and work-life balance were assessed.Results: The response rate was 57.8% (264/457). Males represented 46.6%. Only 14% of the residents in the study were satisfied with their work-life balance, and 62% were satisfied with their career choice of pediatrics. The overall high burnout incidence was 15.9%, the high emotional exhaustion incidence was 63.6%, the high depersonalization incidence was 27.7%, and the low sense of personal accomplishment incidence was 48.5%. In the multivariate analysis, an increase in the average number of on-calls per month (odds ratio [OR]=1.66, 95% CI 1.12-2.46; P=0.012) and satisfaction with salary (OR=0.47, 95% CI 0.33-0.66; P<0.001) showed significant associations with high overall burnout.Conclusion: We found a high level of emotional exhaustion and a low sense of personal accomplishment among respondents. However, less than one-third of residents had feelings of depersonalization or overall high burnout. Residency program directors may need to make modifications in their programs to ensure a good work-life balance for residents that will help ensure that these physicians provide safe and sustained patient care.
Highlights
Practicing medicine while studying can be challenging, and studies have shown that the incidence of burnout among pediatric residents ranges from 17% to 67.8%.1 Burnout is a syndrome characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a low sense of personal accomplishment.[2]
Satisfaction with work-life balance, career, and salary is shown in the Figure
High emotional exhaustion was reported by 63.6% of residents (n=168), while a low sense of personal accomplishment was expressed by 48.5% (n=128)
Summary
Practicing medicine while studying can be challenging, and studies have shown that the incidence of burnout among pediatric residents ranges from 17% to 67.8%.1 Burnout is a syndrome characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a low sense of personal accomplishment.[2]. Burnout is a syndrome characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a low sense of personal accomplishment.[2] Symptoms include anger, blame, helplessness, hopelessness, treating patients as impersonal objects, loneliness, and frustration with patients and with the health care system.[3] Overburdened schedules, increased on-call scheduling, lack of mentorship, an unsupportive family or partner, dissatisfaction with work-life balance, and a lack of self-care are all risk factors that can precipitate burnout.[4,5,6]. Burnout is a syndrome characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a low sense of personal accomplishment. The overall high burnout incidence was 15.9%, the high emotional exhaustion incidence was 63.6%, the high depersonalization incidence was 27.7%, and the low sense of personal accomplishment incidence was 48.5%. Residency program directors may need to make modifications in their programs to ensure a good work-life balance for residents that will help ensure that these physicians provide safe and sustained patient care
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
