Prevalence of Burnout Syndrome among the Residents in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Burnout is viewed as an affective and passive reaction to chronic occupational stress that occurs as emotional exhaustion, physical fatigue, and cognitive weariness.The medical residency is one of the most challenging periods in the professional life of physicians and requires high psychological and physical energy. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of burnout among medical residents.
This cross-sectional study conducted on 104 emergency medicine, internal medicine, and obstetrics and gynecology residents in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran, using the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Data were analyzed using MANOVA, Cramer’s V, and Pearson correlation coefficient tests.
Findings: 71.15% of residents were burned out. The frequency percentage of burnout among obstetrics and gynecology residents was higher than in the other two groups (non-significant) and among the second- and third-year residents was higher than others (significant). In addition, the frequency percentage of burnout among women was higher than men (non-significant), and among the married residents was more than singles (significant). The mean burnout was not significantly different in various levels of demographic variables namely type of specialty, year of study, gender, and marital status. There was no significant correlation between age and burnout.
Majority of residents were burned out. Given the importance of the consequences of burnout, periodic evaluation of residents’ burnout is necessary and psychological interventions should be prepared for them.