Burnout Scores Research Articles

Physician Burnout during Covid-19 Pandemic in Pediatric Emergency Rooms of Low-Middle Income Country, Pakistan

Abstract: Background: Burnout can adversely affect the mental health, quality of life and quality of work of healthcare workers. Objective: We aimed to assess the burnout rate among physicians working in pediatric emergency rooms during COVID-19 pandemic, in public sector hospitals of Pakistan. Materials and Methods: It is a descriptive study performed in March 2021. We included all physicians working in the pediatric emergency departments of 9 public sector hospitals of Sindh, Pakistan, excluding those who didn’t give consent. The participants were sent an online questionnaire based survey, comprising of Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) tool along with three added COVID-19 specific questions. It was disseminated electronically. Data was analyzed using SPSS ver22. Result: A total of n=249 physicians filled the forms out of 320, giving a response rate of 77.8%. Majority 187 (75.1%) were females. Most of the physicians were females n=187 (75.1%) and worked primarily in emergency department n=186 (74.7%). The Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) score revealed that 88 (35.3%) of the physicians had burnout (Score > 50). The most common component was Personal burnout in 122 (48.9%). Physicians working in emergency department, full time shifts and at junior designations had higher rates of burnout (P value <0.05). Conclusion: Burnout is a significant problem in pediatric emergency departments, specifically during the COVID-19 pandemic. Timely training and provision of supplies along with safety, security and alleviation of fear are important strategies to overcome burnout. Keywords: Burnout, Emergency departments, COVID-19, Pediatric emergency, Mental health, Health care professionals, Pandemic, Healthcare Quality indicators.

The Impact of Loving-Kindness Meditation on Job-Related Burnout of Nurses Working in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Randomized Clinical Trial Study.

Job-related burnout is one health outcome in nurses working in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) due to the heavy workload, which results in negative physical and psychological consequences. One newly introduced approach to improve coping is loving-kindness meditation (LKM). Some studies have shown the effectiveness of the LKM on the mental health of nurses, though more evidence is required to support them. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the LKM on job-related burnout of nurses working in NICU. This clustered controlled randomized clinical trial assessed job-related burnout before and after a month of practicing LKM guided through a virtual method. A total of 66 eligible NICU nurses from 2 referral children hospitals in Tehran were randomly assigned to 2 control (n = 33) and intervention (n = 33) groups. The intervention was performed 3 times a week for 1 month in the form of 20-minute audio files of LKM for the intervention group, and educational files on mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic were sent to the control group. The instruments used in this study were the demographic information questionnaire and the Maslach Burnout Inventory, which participants completed before and after the intervention. The mean difference in the overall scores of burnout before and after the intervention in the intervention group was significantly reduced (P = .003), but no significant difference was observed in the control group (P = .018). These findings support the benefit of LKM in NICU nurses in reducing burnout.

Longitudinal look at individual resident preferences to prevent burnout: Which matter the most?

ABSTRACT A longitudinal look at individual resident preferences to prevent burnout: Which matter the most? Background and Objectives Burnout among residents-in-training is being reported more frequently. Previous studies have shown that lower measures of emotional intelligence, mindfulness, emotional regulation, and gratitude earlier in residency were associated with higher burnout scores later. Many studies have reported interventions intended to lessen burnout but not chosen by the residents with variable results on subsequent burnout measures. This paper reports an individually paired longitudinal analysis of strategies ranked by the resident as important with a subsequent burnout measure. Methods From 2017 through 2021, 32 residents completed a survey ranking their preference of ten approaches to preventing burnout at the beginning of the academic year. Then they later completed a burnout survey at the end of each year. Results With a usable response rate of 94% and calculating Spearman’s Correlation, residents completing their first year of training after medical school (PG-1) who gave a higher rank to a workplace supporting their personal values (p=.016), self-care (p=.031), and administrative support (p=.046) showed less burnout at the end of the year. PG-3s (those completing their third year of training after medical school) who gave a higher rank to spending time with family and friends (p=.002) showed less burnout. For all three years, the most powerful correlation was with adopting a healthy philosophical outlook (p=.014, .008, <.001). Conclusions In this group of residents, the correlations of preferred strategies for lessening burnout differed by training level. Rather than faculty choosing an intervention, we propose these ten strategies as a potential menu, allowing the individual resident to focus on their preferences working with a mentor. Group discussion of methods used by individual residents to adopt a healthy philosophical outlook would also be helpful.

Prevalence of Burnout Among Health Workers in Iran: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Introduction: Burnout significantly impacts human service professions, reducing the sense of competence and successful performance of duties. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of job burnout among healthcare workers in Iran. Methods: A systematic search was conducted according to the PRISMA checklist in databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Magiran, Scientific Information Database (SID), and IranDoc from the inception of each database until December 30, 2023. Studies that used the Maslach burnout inventory to investigate the prevalence of burnout in health workers and had an observational design (including cross-sectional studies) were included. The selection of relevant studies was performed independently by two researchers at all stages of study selection, including screening, full-text review, and qualitative evaluation using the modified version of the HOY tool. Data implementation was done in Excel, and data analysis was conducted using STATA version 12. Results: A total of 63 articles were included. About 62.2% of the studies had a low risk of bias. A meta-analysis was performed using the random-effects method to calculate the prevalence of job burnout, and the average score of burnout was calculated as ES: [95% Conf interval = 0.38 (0.30 - 0.46)]. The degree of heterogeneity was reported as I2 = 99.66%, which is significant (P = 0.000), indicating high heterogeneity among the studies. Subgroup analysis was conducted to reduce heterogeneity. The results showed that the average burnout score increases with the sample size increase in the study, which is statistically significant (P < 0.001). Conclusions: To minimize burnout, it is suggested that supportive approaches, including access to psychosocial support, web-based services, psychological first aid, psychological support hotlines, and self-care techniques, be considered for healthcare workers during their service years.

A Longitudinal Assessment of Resident and New Graduate Well-Being According to Length of Training: A Report From the Length of Training Pilot in Family Medicine.

Two surveys captured data included in these analyses. One was a resident survey that included the Mayo Clinic physician-expanded Well-Being Index (eWBI) administered annually during the In-Training Examination (2014-2019). The second was administered to graduates 1 year after completion of training between 2016 and 2022 and included the same well-being questions. Response rates ranged between 77.7% and 96.8%. The eWBI summary scores for burnout were highest in postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) and did not differ statistically according to length of training (PGY1: 2.02 in 3-year [3YR] programs vs 1.93 in 4-year [4YR] programs, P=.55; postgraduate year 2 [PGY2]: 2.42 in 3YR programs vs 2.38 in 4YR programs, P=.83; postgraduate year 3 [PGY3]: 2.18 in 3YR programs vs 2.28 in 4YR programs, P=.59; and 2.34 in postgraduate year 4 [PGY4] for those in 4YR programs), though some statistical differences were noted for three items. New graduates' eWBI summary scores before the COVID-19 pandemic were 1.77 among 3YR graduates and 1.66 among 4YR graduates (P=.59). These scores were higher during COVID-19 at 1.89 for 3YR graduates and 2.02 for 4YR graduates (P=.62). Length of training was not associated with differences in well-being before or during COVID-19. We found no associations between length of training and physician well-being during training or among new graduates before or during COVID-19.

Academic Burnout, Personality, and Academic Variables in University Students.

This study examines academic burnout syndrome and its relation to personal and academic variables among university students in nursing and early childhood education programs in Spain. A total of 606 university students (primary education: 49.7%; nursing: 49.7%) of both sexes (71.5% female) with an average age of 20.68 years (SD = 1.65) participated. An ex post facto retrospective single-group design was planned. The instruments used were the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey (MBI-SS) and the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI). Nursing students, who reported more study hours, less sleep, and lower grades, had higher academic burnout scores. Linear regression models were proposed to analyze the relationship between academic burnout, personality, and sociodemographic variables. Nursing students scored higher in emotional exhaustion and lower in cynicism, and they scored higher in neuroticism and openness. Furthermore, 16.1% of the variance in academic burnout was explained by personality variables as well as the degree studied, course year, and study hours. These findings suggest the importance of considering both academic and personality variables in understanding academic burnout in university students.

The relationship between burnout syndrome and emotional intelligence in anesthesiologists during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study

Background Burnout, a type of long-lasting work-related stress, is highly prevalent among health professionals. It includes dimensions of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and low professional achievement. Emotional intelligence is the ability to accurately perceive, evaluate, and express emotions, to perceive and/or produce feelings that facilitate thought, to understand emotion and acquire emotional knowledge, and to control emotions in order to promote emotional and intellectual growth. Among the extensive literature on burnout, no studies have measured its prevalence among anesthesiologists in Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic. Studies on the association between emotional intelligence and burnout are also scarce in this population. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of burnout in anesthesiologists at a hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic and to assess its association with emotional intelligence. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in a large private hospital in southern Brazil. A non-probabilistic convenience sample of anesthesiologists was selected from a hospital's clinical staff. Via Google Forms, participants responded to an anonymous self-applied self-explanatory questionnaire with sections on sociodemographic data, burnout (Maslach Burnout Inventory), and emotional intelligence (Wong and Law's Emotional Intelligence Scale). Descriptive analysis of the variables was performed and the association between burnout and emotional intelligence was evaluated using the Pearson or Spearman correlation coefficient, depending on data distribution. Results A burnout prevalence of 8.1% was found, as well as a strong negative correlation between total burnout scores and emotional intelligence. Conclusions According to the regression analysis, emotional intelligence can be considered an independent factor associated with this outcome.

Funeral directors’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed method study

ABSTRACT To investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on death rituals among funeral directors (FDs) (N = 134), we administered a questionnaire and conducted three focus group interviews (N = 21). The merged results showed that the FDs perceived significant disruptions to all rituals but mostly to memorials. Infection control, social distancing, the constraints on attendee numbers and difficult prioritisation of who to be allowed into the rituals, highly impacted the grief of the bereaved and their own ability to convey care. Despite low burnout scores, the FDs found their work life stressful, changed and challenging amid the pandemic but still filled with meaning and job satisfaction. Our recommendations include for spacious venues, prioritising efforts for feasible memorials, maintaining stable numbers and distance restrictions, ensuring participation for children and easily left out groups, creating a prioritising guide for quantity restrictions, and offering digital support for funeral staff.

Psychiatry Resident Physicians Experience Personal and Professional Grief, Burnout and Depression: Results From a National Survey.

Resident physicians experience personal and professional stressors throughout training. These experiences may increase levels of burnout, depression, and grief. Understanding how these stressors impact trainees is essential for improving wellbeing during residency. We examined the prevalence and associations between burnout, depression, and grief among a national sample of psychiatry resident physicians. A survey including validated scales for burnout (Modified Maslach Burnout Inventory-Health Services Survey [MBI]), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 [PHQ-9]), and grief (Traumatic Grief Inventory Self Report [TGSIR]) was distributed to 296 psychiatry program directors in January 2023 for dispersal to their respective residents. Fifty-seven participants completed the survey out of 245 participants who opened and started the survey (23.3%). All participants were current psychiatry residents. MBI scores averaged 21.2 (SD 6.5, range 11-40); 11 participants reported high levels of burnout (scores >27; 19.3%). PHQ-9 scores averaged 3.42 (SD 3.0, range 0-14), with 8 responses meeting the criteria for moderate depressive symptoms (scores >10-14; 14.0%). Suicidal ideation was reported by 5 of 57 participants (8.7%). TGISR scores averaged 12.2 (SD 11, range 0-43); no participants met the criteria for pathologic grief. TGISR scores were correlated with MBI (r = .30; P = .02) and PHQ-9 scores (r = .53; P < .0001). MBI scores were also correlated with PHQ-9 scores (r = .54; P < .0001). Non-pathological grief was correlated with burnout and depression. 14% to 20% of psychiatry residents reported clinically significant levels of burnout and depression. Future studies should aim to further characterize burnout, depression, and grief in larger samples of trainees.

Analysis and evaluation of peer group support for doctors in postgraduate training following workplace violence and aggression.

Workplace violence and aggression toward healthcare staff has a significant impact on the individual, causing self-blame, isolation and burnout. Timely and appropriate support can mitigate harm, but there is little research into how this should be delivered. We conducted multi-speciality peer groups for London doctors in postgraduate training (DPT), held over a 6-week period. Pre- and post-group burnout questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were used to evaluate peer support. Thematic analysis and descriptive statistical methods were used to describe the data. We found four themes: (a) the experience and impact of workplace violence and aggression on DPT, (b) the experience of support following incidents of workplace violence and aggression, (c) the impact and experience of the peer groups and (d) future improvements to support. DPTs showed a reduction in burnout scores. Peer groups are effective support for DPT following workplace violence and aggression. Embedding support within postgraduate training programmes would improve access and availability.

Relationships between job satisfaction, occupational burnout and rationing of care among intensive care unit nurses.

Rationing of nursing care is referred to as overlooking aspects of required patient care. Its result is incomplete or delayed services provided to the patient. Anesthesia nurses employed in an intensive care unit are exposed to a significant workload. Particularly heavy is the psychological burden leading in many cases to the onset of burnout syndrome and a decrease in job satisfaction. Was to determine the relationship between occupational burnout, job satisfaction and rationing of care among anesthesia nurses employed in intensive care units. The study group consisted of 477 anesthesia nurses employed in intensive care units in Poland. The study was conducted between December 2022 and January 2023. The research tools were BERNCA-R questionnaire, Job Satisfaction Scale questionnaire and Maslach Burnout Inventory questionnaire, which were distributed to selected hospitals with a request to be forwarded to intensive care units and completed. In the statistical analysis, correlations were calculated using Spearman's rho coefficient, reporting the intensity of the relationship and its positive or negative direction. The analysis was performed using the IBM SPSS 26.0 package with the Exact Tests module. The mean score of the BERNCA questionnaire was 1.65 ± 0.82. The mean score of occupational burnout was 60.82 ± 10.46. The level of emotional exhaustion, which significantly affects occupational burnout, was 26.39 ± 6.07, depersonalization was 14.14 ± 3.21 and lack of personal achievement was 20.29 ± 4.70. All the scores obtained exceeded the threshold of 50% of total points, which indicates the presence of occupational burnout at a significant level. The job satisfaction of the nurses surveyed was above mean at 23.00 ± 5.2 out of 35 total points. The results proved that there is a statistically significant, although with a weak strength of association, correlation between occupational burnout and rationing of care by anesthesia nurses. As the limitation of anesthesia nurses' ability to perform certain activities increases, their job satisfaction decreases. In a work environment that is conducive to nurses, there are fewer job responsibilities that are unfulfilled. Therefore, it is essential to create a friendly work environment for nursing staff that will promote the provision of services at the highest possible level.

Empathy and Coping Strategies Predict Quality of Life in Japanese Healthcare Professionals.

Burnout and secondary traumatic stress (STS), also referred to as compassion fatigue, are undeniable negative consequences experienced by healthcare professionals when working with patients. As frontline healthcare professionals are essential to communities, it is crucial to understand their mental health and how they cope with negative psychological responses. This study investigated the relationships between burnout, STS, compassion satisfaction, dispositional empathy, and stress management among Japanese healthcare professionals and students taking care of patients in clinical practice. The participants were 506 Japanese healthcare professionals and students (doctors, nurses, medical students, and nursing students) affiliated with Japanese Ministry of Defense Hospitals. The data were collected from March 2020 to May 2021. We assessed burnout, STS, and compassion satisfaction using the Professional Quality of Life Scale, dispositional empathy using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index, and coping with stress using the Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory (Brief-COPE). Exploratory factor analysis of the Brief-COPE yielded three factors: active coping; support-seeking; and indirect coping. Personal distress, a self-oriented emotional empathy index, was related to higher burnout and STS scores and lower compassion satisfaction. Empathic concern, an other-oriented emotional empathy index, was associated with lower burnout and higher compassion satisfaction. Active coping strategies were associated with lower burnout and higher compassion satisfaction, whereas indirect coping strategies were associated with higher burnout and STS scores. In a comparison of empathy in professional categories, nurses presented higher personal distress than nursing students, and medical doctors showed lower fantasy tendencies than medical students. These results imply the complex relationships between empathy, coping strategies, and psychological responses among healthcare professionals. Further longitudinal study is needed to explore these complex relationships and to develop more precise and effective psycho-educational interventions to prevent burnout and STS.

Burnout symptoms in elite athletes: Assessing the role of effort–reward imbalance, support and emotions

Drawing on theories from the sociology of work and organizations, such as Leiter and Maslach's concept of burnout and Siegrist's model of effort–reward imbalance, this paper argues that burnout symptoms in elite sport are related to a mismatch of investment and gratification. Building on data from a sample of German elite athletes ( N = 312), findings show that high time investments for training and competitions, the experience of time and role conflicts and negative emotions related to daily training are associated with more burnout symptoms, while sporting success, social support and training-related positive emotions are associated with lower burnout scores. Vulnerability to burnout is increased in situations that qualify as gratification crises, in which athletes perceive that high time commitment does not pay off in terms of sporting success.

Prevalence of burnout among healthcare professionals: a survey at fort portal regional referral hospital

The work environment in most hospitals is characterised by activities that are strenuous both physically and mentally. These can result in physical and mental exhaustion, which can lead to burnout if not adequately addressed. Burnout among healthcare professionals can negatively affect their clinical decision-making, quality of communication with patients and colleagues as well as their ability to cope with work-related pressure, and ultimately affect the quality of care and patient outcomes. The inclusion of burnout in the 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) as an occupational phenomenon indicates that it is an issue of concern in the workplace for which people may need professional attention. This descriptive cross-sectional survey aimed to determine the point prevalence of burnout among healthcare professionals at Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital and the factors contributing to burnout. The study also evaluated the linear relationship between the age of workers, their work duration at the hospital, and their burnout score, in addition to the possible impact on patient care. Participants were selected from the hospital WhatsApp group and invitations to participate were sent to their individual accounts. Burnout was assessed using the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory. Generally, burnout scores ranged from 16% to 86%, with an overall mean burnout score of 57.4%. The notable factors contributing to burnout included imbalances in duty allocation, physically strenuous work, and resource constraints. Burnout of varying levels was found to be prevalent across all carders in the hospital, although the results indicate that most healthcare professionals experience moderate burnout. Most of the factors contributing to burnout are within the scope of hospital leadership to address. The possible impact on staff performance and patients’ clinical outcomes is speculative, and additional studies are required.

Professional quality of life among intensive care unit nurses in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT Background: Stressful and challenging intensive care settings may influence nurses’ professional quality of life (ProQOL), in terms of job satisfaction, burnout (BO), and secondary traumatic stress (STS). Aims: This study aimed to measure the ProQOL of critical care nurses, and its association with sociodemographic variables. Settings and Design: The study was conducted in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a tertiary referral hospital in Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional design utilizing the self-administered ProQOL 5.0 questionnaire composed of three subscales for compassion satisfaction (CS), BO, and STS. Statistical Analysis: scores of the three subscales of the ProQOL questionnaire were presented as mean and standard deviation, and their association with categorical sociodemographic variables was explored using analysis of variance or Kruskal–Wallis test. Results: With a response rate of 48.4%, the majority of nurses were in the moderate category of all three subscales of the questionnaire, with mean scores of CS, BO, and STS of 35.8 ± 6.6, 27 ± 4.4, and 23.9 ± 8.7, respectively. Higher levels of education and longer experience were significantly associated with lower STS scores. Conclusion: Moderate levels of all subscales of ProQOL prevail in our ICU. Longer experience and higher educational levels may be significant factors in minimizing STS.

Gender Difference of Burnout in Physicians Working in Tertiary Care Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Burnout and emotional exhaustion are becoming common among health workers in the busy teaching hospitals due to increased workload and the dearth of human resource. This study aimed to determine the causes of burnout among doctors and across gender differences. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in the Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from 1st July to 30th September 2022. Two hundred and forty-five randomly recruited doctors who filled out self-administered questionnaires were included in the study. Independent samples t-test was used for comparison of the mean emotional burnout score. Female doctors felt more emotionally drained, more fatigued, and more worn out from work than male doctors (p < 0.05). Overall emotional exhaustion was also higher in female doctors (p < 0.05). This situation was more serious during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gender-sensitive environments, workplace policies, and necessary interventions will save physicians' burnout and brain drain. Emotional burnout is greater in female doctors as compared to their male counterparts. This evidence not only calls for prevention and treatment but also certain service-related reforms to facilitate female physicians to balance out their work and family lives more effectively. Key Words: Physicians, Emotional exhaustion, Burnout, Gender difference, Pakistan.

The protective role of resilience and social support against burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought on a range of stressors in homes and workplaces. With no sign of ending after one year, burnout was a concern. Resilience has been known to shield against the effects of stress. While often thought of as an individual trait, previous studies have shown social support to improve resilience. The study aimed to examine the extent of burnout in the Singapore population and whether social support and resilience cushioned the impact of COVID-19 related stressors a year into the pandemic. Participants were 858 Singapore residents who participated in a larger study between October 2021 and September 2022. The Copenhagen Burnout Inventory provided Work-and Personal-related burnout scores. Multivariable linear regression was used to identify demographic variables associated with burnout. Path analysis revealed the associations between COVID-19 stressors, social support, resilience and burnout. 22 and 19% of the sample reported work and personal burnout respectively, with younger adults being more burnt out than older adults. Higher stress was associated with higher burnout and higher social support was associated with lower burnout. Path analysis revealed that the relationship between social support and burnout was partially accounted for by increased resilience. Managing altered work arrangements, career expectations, and increased responsibilities at home may contribute to greater levels of burnout in the younger adults. Increased employer support and targeted interventions could mitigate the impact of these stressors. The study also highlighted the importance of maintaining social connections even while physically distancing.

Burnout levels and correlates among healthcare providers in Syria following the 2023 Turkish-Syrian earthquakes: A cross-sectional study.

This article examines the prevalence of burnout among healthcare providers in the aftermath of the recent earthquakes in Syria and Turkey and explores the associated risk factors. This cross-sectional study included 270 healthcare providers in three Syrian cities damaged by earthquakes. Participants were asked to fill out a validated questionnaire on the fifth day of emergency response using the Geldard Occupational Burnout questionnaire. The mean score for the Geldard Occupational Burnout Questionnaire was 129.79, with 81.4% indicating moderate burnout risk and only 3% indicating high risk. Gender was not significantly associated with burnout, but there was a significant difference in burnout scores between city groups, with Latakia scoring significantly lower than Aleppo. This study highlights the prevalence of burnout among healthcare providers in the aftermath of an earthquake in Syria, with the majority having a moderate risk of burnout. Gender was not significantly associated with burnout risk. Further research is needed to develop effective interventions and address study limitations. The study emphasizes the importance of prioritizing healthcare providers' mental health to ensure high-quality care after natural disasters.

Addressing medical student burnout through informal peer-assisted learning: a correlational analysis

BackgroundDespite the recognized advantages of Peer-Assisted Learning (PAL) in academic settings, there is a notable absence of research analyzing its effects on students' Academic Burnout. This study aims to cover this gap by assessing the underlying effectiveness of Informal Peer-Assisted Learning (IPAL) as a cooperative learning method, focusing on its potential to mitigate academic burnout among medical students.MethodsIn 2022, a cross-sectional study was conducted at the School of Medicine, Universidad Central del Caribe, in Puerto Rico. The research team gathered data from 151 participants, 49.19% of 307 total student body. This cohort included 76 female students, 71 male students, and 4 individuals saying other. The School Burnout Inventory questionnaire (SBI-9) was employed to assess Academic Burnout, along with an added query about self-reported IPAL. The SBI-9 underwent validation processes to ascertain its reliability and validity, incorporating the Exploratory Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis. Following this, the investigators conducted an analysis to determine the correlation between academic burnout levels and involvement in IPAL.ResultsThe validation process of the questionnaire affirmed its alignment with an eight-item inventory, encapsulating two principal factors that elucidate academic burnout. The first factor pertains to exhaustion, while the second encompasses the combined subscales of cynicism and inadequacy.The questionnaire shows high reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.829) and good fit indices (Comparative Fit Index = 0.934; Tucker-Lewis Index = 0.902; Standardized Root Mean Squared Residual = 0.0495; Root Mean Squared Error of Approximation = 0.09791; p-value < 0.001). The factors proven in the selected model were used to evaluate the correlation between Academic Burnout and IPAL. Students engaged in IPAL showed significantly lower academic burnout prevalence compared to those who never participated in such practices, with a mean academic burnout score of 44.75% (SD 18.50) for IPAL engaged students versus 54.89% (SD 23.71) for those who never engaged in such practices (p-value < 0.013). Furthermore, within the group engaged in IPAL, students displayed lower levels of cynicism/inadequacy 41.98% (SD 23.41) compared to exhaustion 52.25% (SD 22.42) with a p-value < 0.001.ConclusionsThe results of this study underscore a notable issue of academic burnout among medical students within the surveyed cohort. The investigation reveals a significant correlation between Academic Burnout and IPAL, suggesting that incorporating IPAL strategies may be beneficial in addressing burnout in medical education settings. However, further research is needed to explore potential causal mechanisms.

Trainee burnout: Are there modifiable factors?

Burnout is a complex phenomenon and a major concern in graduate medical education as it directly impacts trainee well-being. Identifying modifiable lifestyle factors over which trainees have immediate control could support timely, actionable, individual and programme-level interventions to combat it. The objective of this pilot study is to describe modifiable lifestyle factors that may limit the development of burnout in medical residents and fellows. We performed a cross-sectional survey of residents and fellows at academic medical centre from September 2017 to October 2017. Participants completed the Maslach Burnout Inventory and a questionnaire designed to identify factors hypothesised to be protective against burnout. A total of 205/805 (25%) trainees completed the survey with a mean (SD) age of 29.7 (2.6) years. 52% (n= 107) were female. Averaging at least 7 h of sleep per night was found to have a significant association with lower scores for the emotional exhaustion (24.8 [11, p= 0.04]) and depersonalisation (11.1 [6.4, p= 0.02]) dimensions of burnout. Additionally, self-identifying as a healthy eater was found to have a significant association with lower scores for emotional exhaustion (25 [11.5, p= 0.03]) and depersonalisation (11.5 [6.6, p= 0.04]) as well. Workouts, hobbies, identifying with organised religion, praying, meditation and mindfulness activities were not associated with a difference. Adequate sleep (7 or more hours per night) and healthy eating are modifiable individual-level lifestyle factors associated with lower burnout scores in trainees. These items could be a target for trainee education and programme level support initiatives.