Burnout syndrome prevalence during internship in public and private hospitals: a survey study in Mexico

Roberto Carlos Miranda-Ackerman,Francisco José Barbosa-Camacho,María José Sander-Möller,Arturo David Buenrostro-Jiménez,Roberto Mares-País,Ana Olivia Cortes-Flores,Gilberto Morgan-Villela,Carlos José Zuloaga-Fernández Del Valle,Manuel Solano-Genesta,Clotilde Fuentes-Orozco,Guillermo Alonso Cervantes-Cardona,Gabino Cervantes-Guevara,Alejandro González-Ojeda

doi:10.1080/10872981.2019.1593785

Abstract

ABSTRACTBurnout syndrome is a psychological condition that commonly affects health professionals, medical students, and others in professions with long shifts. It is defined by a high amount of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and low personal job satisfaction. We aimed to determine the prevalence of burnout syndrome in medical interns and establish the relationships between this condition and the time and type of hospital at which students worked during their medical internship. This was a survey study in which we used the Maslach Burnout Inventory, applied to fifth-year medical students on an internship at private and public hospitals in Mexico. The participants were 96 women (54.5%) and 80 men (45.5%), with ages ranging from 21 to 34 years old. We found burnout syndrome in 20% of these medical students 22% of the women and 18.6% of the men in the sample. Second-semester interns suffered burnout at a rate of 29%, in contrast to 15% of first-semester students. Emotional exhaustion and depersonalization scores were higher in second-semester interns who worked in public hospitals. However, the prevalence did not differ between public and private hospitals. Our study reports a higher prevalence of burnout syndrome during the second semester of internship. Students who practiced their internship in a public hospital showed higher scores in emotional exhaustion and depersonalization than those who practiced in a private hospital.

Highlights

Burnout syndrome is a psychological condition characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and low personal accomplishment, which translates to inefficient job performance
Degree of freedom 174 174 174 drome; this was because presenting one or two altered scores did not fulfill the diagnostic criteria. Even though they are still medical students, interns may suffer from burnout syndrome
Our findings suggest that the prevalence of this syndrome is relevant since, for every three students, one suffers burnout syndrome

Summary

Introduction

Burnout syndrome is a psychological condition characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and low personal accomplishment, which translates to inefficient job performance. It has been associated with high-stress jobs, jobs that involve taking care of people, and jobs with long working hours; by definition, it is a common problem among health professionals and caretakers [1]. In Mexico, it is mandatory that every medical student has a one-year internship at a public or private hospital within the Health Care Network This is done to reinforce and apply the medical knowledge that students have gained during medical school [3]. The medical student works as a key member of personnel at a hospital of their choice, with options across the country, including both public- and private-sector facilities

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