Development and Evaluation of a Global Burnout Index Derived from the Use of the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory in Portuguese Physicians

Abstract

Introduction: The Copenhagen Burnout Inventory was developed to overcome what some authors have proposed as potential limitations of existing burnout measures. Specifically, the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory measures the main component of burnout (i.e. exhaustion) in three domains: personal-, work- and patient-related. Additionally, some authors have argued the necessity to have available a global burnout index.Material and Methods: This study followed a cross-sectional design in a sample of Portuguese physicians (n = 1348). A confirmatory factor analyses was conducted and the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory´s three-factor structure was tested. In addition, a model with a 2nd order factor was tested with the goal of achieving a one-factor structure that would allow a global burnout index.Results: The confirmatory factor analyses showed a good model fit for both the three-factor and one-factor model, having the latter a significant better fit. The Copenhagen Burnout Inventory showed good psychometric properties for both structures, with good reliability according to Chronbach`s alphas and average variance extracted between factors. The Copenhagen Burnout Inventory I was statistically and positively correlated with depression, anxiety and stress symptoms, as well as rumination, and negatively correlated with life satisfaction.Discussion: The current study shows that the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory is a psychometrically valid measure of burnout in Portuguese physicians, and contributes with an instrument able to produce a global index of burnout. This measure provides comprehensive information on different dimensions associated with the development of burnout, as well as presents a global burnout score. Results show that participants who had more burnout also presented higher levels of depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms, as well as present more ruminative thinking, and less life satisfaction.Conclusion: The Copenhagen Burnout Inventory is a psychometrically valid measure of burnout that allows for exploratory studies on the overall level of exhaustion, thus making it possible the comparison between groups in a way that is not restricted to occupation specific aspects.

Trends in Work Conditions and Associations with Workers’ Health in Recent 15 Years: The Role of Job Automation Probability

“…Burnout is conceptualized as an affective reaction to prolonged work stress [ 21 ] and has been found to be associated with sickness absence, physical diseases and mental illnesses [ 22 , 23 , 24 ]. Burnout status was assessed by the five-item scale for personal burnout from the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory [ 25 ], which has been validated and used worldwide [ 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 ] to evaluate employees’ health status related to long-term involvement in emotionally demanding work [ 30 ]. The responses for five items were recorded on a five-point scale: “always” (score 100), “often” (75), “at times” (50), “not often” (25), and “never” (0), and a mean score >50 was classified as having burnout.…”

Burnout of Physicians, Pharmacists and Nurses in the Course of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Serbian Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study

“…The coronavirus pandemic, which has claimed more than 3 million lives so far, has further affected the mental health of people, especially health workers (HW) [27]. In addition to physical risks, it has caused high levels of psychological stress on HW who live in constant fear of exposure to disease, separated from their families, and faced with social stigma [28]. In order to ensure the smooth functioning of medical systems, it is necessary to ensure the well-being and emotional stability of HW, by taking certain measures for the prevention and treatment of any burnout syndrome.…”

Burnout and health status differences among primary healthcare professionals in Portugal

“…Professionals' burnout was measured by the Portuguese validated version of the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) [21] that encompasses three scales of burnout: personal, work-related, and patient-related [49,50]. According to CBI authors, personal burnout measures professional's perception of psychological fatigue and exhaustion.…”

“…However, burnout level and health status do not occur simultaneously. Also, the direction of the causality between health and burnout is not yet well established in the literature [49][50][51].…”