Correlation between Readiness to Change and Burnout among Academic Staff of Basic Sciences in School of Medicine Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Teaching, researching, participating in forums and meetings, financial matters, issues relating to students and work long hours are the daily activities of the academic staff. Working with high pressure can lead them to burnout. The aim of this study was to assess the three components of burnout and readiness to change; also we defined the correlation between readiness to change and burnout among basic medical science academic staffs. This was cross-sectional study and its tools had three questionnaires. General Health Questionnaire, Maslach Questionnaire, in order to assess of burnout and Modified Prochaska Questionnaire, for assess of three levels of readiness to change. The study population includes all academic staff of basic medical sciences in school of medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Inclusion criteria were included, willingness to cooperate, mental health and at least having one year of experience. From total number of participants (129), 65.9% were male and 34.1% were female. The components of burnout in emotional exhaustion were 71.9% weak, 14.8% moderate and13.3% cases were severe, cases in depersonalization were 76.6% weak, 10.2% moderate and 13.3% cases were severe, in Personal accomplishment were 50% weak, 23.4% moderate and 26.6% severe. About 70% were in the action stage. There was correlation between emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and personal accomplishment with readiness for change (0.638, 0.633, and 0.452) respectively with P-Value less than 0.05. The coefficient of correlation between the components of burnout and readiness to change showed a significant inverse relation between them. It could predict that individuals with higher levels of burnout will prove more resistant to change. In the present study, emotional exhaustion and depersonalization low, and only about half compared to their job satisfaction. This shows the necessity of preventing it. Academic staff in terms of readiness to change in the well-kept and often have into action phase.