Prevalence of Burnout Syndrome in Medical Students

Abstract

Introduction: Due to the high load of academic-assistance demands during medical residency, a burnout state of occupational nature might be generated because of psychological and emotional stress. Purpose: To determine the prevalence of burnout syndrome in medical residents of a public university in the department of Cauca - Colombia. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 40 students of medical residency who presented emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and reduced personal accomplishment, dimensions evaluated by the Maslach Burnout Inventory - Human Services Survey Test, an instrument that assesses the prevalence of burnout syndrome. Results: In a population of medical residents composed of men in 55%, the burnout prevalence rate was 0.9%, being present in 47.5% of the participants. While emotional exhaustion was reported in 42,5% and lower degrees of depersonalization in 55%, high levels of personal accomplishment were reported by just half of them. Discussion: The presence of high levels of emotional exhaustion has a decisive value for the prevalence of burnout syndrome in the population of medical residents, similar to that reported in different studies in doctors and medical specialists. Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of burnout syndrome in medical residents, being more often in females under 35 years old.