Prevalence and Correlates of Burnout among Undergraduate Medical Students - A Cross-sectional Survey

Abstract

Background: Burnout among medical students is important for its prevalence, consequences, and modifiable risk factors. Although there are studies on the topic across the globe, Indian studies are few in number. A prevalence estimate of burnout and its determinants among Indian medical graduates will keep us informed about the emotional and motivational factors hindering their professional growth. Methods: From a total of 500 students spanning 5 professional years, data could be collected from 375 students. The study used a questionnaire primarily consisting of "personal burnout" domain of the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI), which is a validated instrument to assess the burnout at a cutoff score of 50. The questionnaire also included a set of potential personal correlates of burnout. In addition to summary statistics, both univariate and multivariate analyses were used for discerning the relationship of these correlates with burnout. Results: The prevalence of burnout among medical students in the college under study was 48.5% (95% confidence interval 43.4-53.7). The proportions of moderate, higher, and severe burnout were 44.8%, 3.2%, and 0.5% respectively. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that female gender and perceived stress were associated with burnout. Choosing medicine by one's own choice and maintaining hobbies and interests were associated with less chance for burnout. Conclusion: Burnout is a prevalent phenomenon among medical students. There are modifiable risk factors for burnout and addressing them will help in training a medical student with high motivation and professionalism.

The roles of emotional intelligence, neuroticism, and academic stress on the relationship between psychological distress and burnout in medical students

“…Academic stress had the second greatest total effect on burnout. This finding is consistent with previous studies that reported daily hassles positively correlated with burnout [ 63 ], academic stress negatively correlated with personal wellness [ 69 ], perceived stress associated with burnout [ 70 ], and academic stress as the most predictive of burnout [ 71 ]. These facts suggest that psychological wellbeing is negatively affected by high academic stress due to the demands of medical training [ 69 , 72 ].…”

Burnout and Associated Factors Among Medical Students in a Public University in Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…It has been proposed, by some, that female medical students are at a high risk of burnout than their male counterparts. 14 Female students are more likely to suffer from stress factors than male medical students, 4 with more demands placed on them outside of the university. 8…”

Burnout, does the university entrance test failing attribute? A Bangladeshi exploratory study

“…The present study’s two-dimensional burnout is slightly lower than the Brazilian study (i.e., 44.9%), but a much higher rate is found for three-dimensional burnout (i.e., 26.4%). The prevalence of two-dimensional burnout is also reported to be 43.43% in Bahraini medical students [ 24 ], 35.9% in Brazilian medical internship students [ 25 ], 35.5% in Portugal medical students [ 26 ]; whereas using Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, 48.53% and 48.8% moderate to higher burnout is reported from Nepalese and Indian medical students, respectively [ 27 , 28 ]. Correspondingly, 28.4% three-dimensional burnout is reported in Thailand [ 29 ], whereas it is 10.3% and 25.9% for Brazilian and Portugal samples, respectively [ 25 , 26 ].…”