Factors Associated with Medical Residents Burnout in Tertiary Care Hospital in Karachi

Abstract

Background: Doctors have a higher degree of psychological morbidity and are at a higher risk of stress-related psychosocial problems such as burnout. Sustained response of long term emotional and interpersonal stressors at job express itself in the form of burnout. This study was conducted to evaluate the factors related to burnout in Pakistani Residents during their period of training. Methodology:  This cross-sectional study was conducted among 278 post-graduates of Civil Hospital, Karachi. Questionnaire given to the residents consisted of demographic data and Maslach job Burnout Inventory (MBI). Chi-square test was applied to analyze relationship between burnout and other variables. Results: High levels of burnout were prevalent in around one-third of resident physicians. Also, females reported more about low and high levels of burnout as compared to males. There was a significant rise of high burnout level in residents working for more than eighty hours per week. Physicians who were living in rented houses reported increased moderate and high levels of burnout. Conclusion: This study expressed some major factors for burnout syndrome in residents such as job working hours and housing status. Results shown in the study indicate that rate of burnout syndrome in residents is excessively high.