Burnout among Residents: Prevalence and Predictors of Depersonalization, Emotional Exhaustion and Professional Unfulfillment among Resident Doctors in Canada

Reham Shalaby, Folajinmi Oluwasina, Ejemai Eboreime, Hany El Gindi, Belinda Agyapong, Marianne Hrabok, Sumeet Dhanoa, Esther Kim, Izu Nwachukwu, Adam Abba-Aji, Daniel Li and Vincent Israel Opoku Agyapong ()
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Reham Shalaby: Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
Folajinmi Oluwasina: Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
Ejemai Eboreime: Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
Hany El Gindi: Department of Critical Care Medicine, King Abdul-Aziz Hospital, Jeddah 22421, Saudi Arabia
Belinda Agyapong: Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
Marianne Hrabok: Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver Island, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
Sumeet Dhanoa: Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
Esther Kim: Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
Izu Nwachukwu: Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
Adam Abba-Aji: Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB T5J 3E4, Canada
Daniel Li: Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB T5J 3E4, Canada
Vincent Israel Opoku Agyapong: Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 2E2, Canada

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 4, 1-27

Abstract: Background: Burnout in the medical profession has garnered a lot of attention over recent years. It has been reported across all specialties and all stages of medical education; however, resident doctors in particular are at risk for burnout throughout their years of training. This study was aimed at evaluating the prevalence and correlates of burnout among resident doctors in Alberta. Methods: Through a descriptive cross-sectional study design, a self-administered questionnaire was used to gather data from resident doctors at two medical schools in Alberta, Canada. The Maslach Burnout Inventory was used as the assessment tool. Chi-squared and multivariate binary logistic regression analyses were used. Results: Overall burnout prevalence among residents was 58.2%, and for professional fulfilment index, it was 56.7% for work exhaustion and interpersonal disengagement and 83.5% for lack of professional fulfillment. Working more than 80 h/week (OR = 16.437; 95% CI: 2.059–131.225), being dissatisfied (OR = 22.28; 95% CI: 1.75–283.278) or being neither satisfied nor dissatisfied with a career in medicine (OR = 23.81; 95% CI: 4.89–115.86) were significantly associated with high depersonalization. Dissatisfaction with efficiency and resources (OR = 10.83; CI: 1.66–70.32) or being neither satisfied nor dissatisfied with a career in medicine (OR = 5.14; CI: 1.33–19.94) were significantly associated with high emotional exhaustion. Working more than 80 h/week (OR = 5.36; CI: 1.08–26.42) and somewhat agreeing that the residency program has enough strategies aimed at resident well-being in place (OR = 3.70; CI: 1.10–12.46) were significantly associated factors with high work exhaustion and interpersonal disengagement. A young age of residents (≤30 years) (OR = 0.044; CI: 0.004–0.445) was significantly associated with low professional fulfillment. Conclusion: Burnout is a serious occupational phenomenon that can degenerate into other conditions or disrupt one’s professional performance. Significant correlates were associated with high rates of burnout. Leaders of medical schools and policymakers need to acknowledge, design, and implement various strategies capable of providing continuous effective mental health support to improve the psychological health of medical residents across Canada.

Keywords: burnout; residents; cross-sectional; online survey; work hours (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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