Burnout Among Basic Sciences Faculty; A Mixed Method Research

Abstract

Objective: To study the burnout and its associated factors among the faculty of basic sciences in Faisalabad. Study Design: Mixed-method research. Place and Duration of Study: Basic sciences faculty of Public and Private Sector Medical Institutes of Faisalabad Pakistan, from Sep to Dec 2021. Methodology: Oldenburg Inventory was used to assess burnout among the faculty of basic medical sciences after taking the authors' permission. SPSS version 23:00 was used to analyze data, and those who had shown a higher level of burnout were interviewed. Recorded interviews were later own transcribed, and thematic analysis was done. Results: The mean exhaustion score for the whole basic sciences faculty was 2.35±0.27, while for disengagement from work, it was 2.24±0.24. Value was 0.62 and 0.144 for exhaustion and disengagement, respectively, showing no difference between the burnout level of faculty members in public and private sectors in both domains. Lack of acknowledgement, Lack of resources, Motivational factors and Lack of progress system were the main themes that emerged after an in-depth exploration of faculty members. Conclusion: The faculty from basic sciences are facing burnout, and the major causes are lack of acknowledgement and appreciation, decreased number of faculty, inadequate resources and ambiguity about future growth in basic sciences. The faculty member advocated the need to develop faculty training, mentoring and post-graduation programmes for the survival and strengthening of basic sciences.