Explaining the Experience of Academic Burnout by Medical Students, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran

Academic burnout is a phenomenon that has received great attention in recent decades, as it has a negative effect on the performance of education and mental health among the students. This study aimed to achieve a deep understanding of the original essence of academic burnout phenomenon.
Qualitative descriptive phenomenological research method, chain sampling method, and in-depth interviews were used in this study on the medical students in Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran, in the academic year of 2014-15. Interviews were recorded and then, written. This process was continued to reach saturation point of data and the sample number reached to 9 people. Obtained data were analyzed using Smith method. To verify the trustworthiness, implication, and authenticity of the data, summary of statements were presented to the participants, and they announced to coordinate their views with the findings of researchers; and if there was a contradiction, perceptions of researcher were amended.
Experiences of academic burnout were summarized in 3 main theme included "poor planning", "problems of motivation", and "problem of adaptation", and 8 subthemes included "flaws in targeting", "postponing", "repeating programming mistakes", "disinterest", "external motivation", "feeling fatigue and impatience", "external locus of control", and "efficiency expectations".
These findings can provide useful information on the characteristics and the situation of medical students, and also preventive strategies and corrective interventions to improve academic performance.