Burnout Syndrome and Its Predictors Among Female Medical Students at Al-Azhar University

Abstract

Introduction: Burnout is a condition resulting from chronic stressful work environment that hasn't been efficiently controlled. It is composed of three dimensions; depletion of emotional resources, negative attitude towards colleagues or patients and reduced academic achievement. It is expressed by many medical students due to stressful nature of their study. The aim of the work: The current study aimed to estimate the prevalence of burnout among female medical students and to explore the association between educational variables, general self-efficacy [GSE] and burnout. Subjects and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted from October 2019 to March 2020 among students of the Faculty of Medicine for Girls [Al-Azhar University] from the first to six grades. The sample was taken by stratified random sampling technique, from 480 students 471[98.1%] responded to the questionnaire. Burnout was assessed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey [MBI-SS]. Socio-demographic, educational variables, general self-efficacy [GSE] were also included as possible predictors of burnout. Results: The study results revealed that burnout was prevalent [42.9%, n=202]; expressing high exhaustion [90.9%, n=428], high cynicism [65.8%, n=310], and low academic efficiency [58.4%, n=275]. Burnout was higher among those in clinical stage [75.7%]. Most of burnout students [91.1%] express uncomfortable feeling with teaching activities. A significant positive correlation was found between GSE and academic efficiency. Conclusion: Burnout is prevalent among female medical students. Clinical academic stage, difficulty in achieving academic goals, dissatisfaction with teaching strategy, dissatisfaction with medical study, and lower grade point average are predictors of burnout among them.