ObjectivesTo assess
levels of burnout in medical students, and to explore the influence of
extracurricular activities on burnout at a medical school in Saudi Arabia.
MethodsThis
cross-sectional study was conducted with first to fourth year medical students
at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS) in Riyadh,
Saudi Arabia. Socio-demographic, burnout level (the Maslach Burnout
Inventory-Student Survey, MBI-SS) and participation in extracurricular
activities data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire.
Statistical analyses were performed using the Pearson’s chi-square test and
binary logistic regression.
ResultsFrom the 306
medical students approached, 249 (81.4%) completed the questionnaire. The level
of high burnout was 67.1% (n=167). The study revealed that the majority (62.3%,
n=155) of students had high levels of cynicism, 58.6% (n=146) had high levels
of emotional exhaustion, and 60.2% (n=150) had low levels of
professional efficacy. Most of the students (73.5%, n=183) participated in
extracurricular activities, and 112 (45%) students were organizers of
extracurricular activities. No significant association was found between
burnout levels and the frequency of involvement in extracurricular activities
(χ2=2.2, df=2, p=0.333). However, students who were organizing
extracurricular activities were less likely to have low professional efficacy
(OR=0.51, 95% CI: 0.27- 0.96).
ConclusionsHigh levels of
burnout were reported at this medical school. Although the burnout level is not
significantly associated with the frequency of involvement in extracurricular
activities, leading and organizing extracurricular activities might result in lower levels of burnout. Therefore,
improving the students’ leadership skills should be considered in curriculum
planning, and greater emphasis should be placed on the quality of involvement
in extracurricular activities rather than the quantity.