Burnout and job satisfaction among physicians in a Saudi tertiary care center: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Burnout is considered as a pathological syndrome in which emotional depletion and maladaptive detachment develop in response to prolonged occupational stress. The aim of this study was to measure the degree of burnout and career dissatisfaction among doctors in different stages of their medical careers, and to identify and rank predictive factors. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was performed between December 2016 and June 2017 that involved Saudi physicians from all specialty disciplines at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Questionnaires were electronically delivered to physicians. The survey included the Maslach Burnout Inventory questionnaire. Prevalence of burnout according to different sections of the questionnaire was calculated and predictors of burnout were identified through regression analysis. Results: Seventy seven physicians were included with a mean age of 43.8 years. Almost 90% of participants were married all of which reported having children. 40% of physicians had been practicing for more than 10 years. 83% of participant spent 5 to 8 years in training. The vast majority were academic doctors (91%) and 79% reported having administrative in addition to their clinical duties. Almost half of cohort (48%) reported having only 1–2 hours per day for leisure or family. 61% of physicians reported that they were very satisfied with their choice of becoming a physician. Conclusion: A significant proportion of physicians working at an Academic Medical Center appeared to suffer from burnout. Parenthood and working hours might be predictive of burnout.