Influential Factors of Burnout among Village Doctors in China: A Cross-Sectional Study

Xinyi Zhao, Shu Liu, Yifan Chen, Quan Zhang and Yue Wang
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Xinyi Zhao: Department of Medical Ethics and Law, School of Health Humanities, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
Shu Liu: Department of Language and Culture in Medicine, School of Health Humanities, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
Yifan Chen: Department of Language and Culture in Medicine, School of Health Humanities, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
Quan Zhang: National School of Development, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
Yue Wang: Department of Medical Ethics and Law, School of Health Humanities, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 4, 1-10

Abstract: (1) Background: The heavy workload and understaffed personnel of village doctors is a challenge to the rural healthcare system in China. Previous studies have documented the predictors of doctors’ burnout; however, little attention has been paid to village doctors. This study aims to investigate the prevalence and influential factors of burnout among village doctors. (2) Methods: Data was collected by a self-administered questionnaire from 1248 village doctors who had worked at rural clinics for more than a year. Burnout was measured using the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) with three dimensions—emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and reduced personal accomplishment (PA). A logistic regression model was applied to estimate the influential factors of burnout. (3) Results: The prevalence of overall burnout was 23.6%. Being male (OR = 0.58, 95%CI: 0.41–0.82), poor health status (OR = 0.80, 95%CI: 0.67–0.94), low income (OR = 0.62, 95%CI: 0.40–0.95), and a poor doctor–patient relationship (OR = 0.57, 95%CI: 0.48–0.67) were significantly related to burnout. Conclusion: Burnout is prevalent among Chinese village doctors. Policies such as increasing village doctors’ income and investing more resources in rural healthcare system should be carried out to mitigate and prevent burnout.

Keywords: burnout; village doctors; rural healthcare system; influential factors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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