Relationship between Misconduct of Medical Professionalism with Burnout Syndrome and Related Factors

Burnout syndrome (BOS) is a common occupational disease amongst medical physicians; especially anesthesiologists. BOS is known to result in increased expenditure of the healthcare system and decreased patient satisfaction. In order to substitute for good conduct by its medical staff, Tehran University of Medical University established its own guidelines on professionalism as a substitute for professional conduct amongst its personnel. Learning and practicing professionalism is not only a requirement to be competent as a specialist, but also it results in increasing healthcare quality and patient satisfaction. There is a lack of studies on the relationship between BOS and professionalism. Determination of the relationships between professionalism and BOS among TUMS anesthesiology residents.

In this cross-sectional study all anesthesiology residents completed three forms (demographic checklist, Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), and professionalism self-conduct). The results were primarily analyzed using STATA 14.0 and relationships were established via linear and binary regression.

About 44 percent of residents met criteria for BOS. The risk of developing BOS was significantly higher for residents who adhered to the principles of respect and altruism and for residents training in one of our surveyed hospitals; whereas the risk of developing BOS would be reduced by increasing age and adherence to the principles of justice Burnout subscales scores concerning emotional exhaustion and personal accomplishment were significantly related with higher self-reported scores of altruism and honesty-integrity respectively.

The chances of developing BOS could be enhanced by inadequate practice in the field of professional ethics. Therefor the importance of learning and competent practice of professionalism must be acknowledged. Age and professional climate were the most important demographic variables related to BOS in anesthesiology residents.