The relationship between burnout, occupational accidents and workforce loss among resident physicians working at a university hospital

Abstract

Objectives. Burnout has been shown to be associated with the risk of occupational accidents and workforce loss, and it has been reported that the initial signs of burnout among physicians begin during medical school or during residency training. This study therefore aimed to determine the prevalence of burnout and the relationship between burnout, occupational accidents and workforce loss among resident physicians working at a university hospital in Ankara, Türkiye. Methods. The cross-sectional study was conducted among 144 resident physicians in a university hospital using a face-to-face questionnaire focusing on burnout subscales, occupational accidents and absenteeism. Results. The study proved that having an occupational accident, the number of occupational accidents, the type of occupational accidents such as sharp injuries, exposure to blood and body fluids, and experiencing trip-and-fall incidents were associated with burnout subscale scores (except personal accomplishment). No relationship was found between all other variables and burnout subscale scores. Conclusion. A relationship was identified between the occurrence of occupational accidents and the number of accidents experienced with the level of burnout. This finding suggests that interventions aimed at preventing burnout may also contribute to a reduction in occupational accidents. This provides evidence for future prospective and interventional studies.