Psychometric properties and health correlates of the Hungarian Version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory – Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) among physicians

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of burnout among employees in the human services sector including physicians is high. The validity and reliability of the MBI-HSS, the instrument used for the assessment of burnout in this population, have been established in many countries; however, there are limited data regarding the psychometric properties of this instrument in Hungary. Objectives: To assess the psychometric properties including reliability and validity of the Hungarian version of the MBI-HSS and to explore its relations to somatic and psychiatric diseases. Methods: Cross-sectional survey among 420 physicians. Internal consistency of the Hungarian version of the MBI-HSS was assessed by confirmatory factor and item analysis, discriminant validity was assessed by path analyses using Karasek's Demand-Control-Support Questionnaire. Associations with somatic and psychiatric diseases were explored with the Mann-Whitney test. Results: Factor analysis of the Hungarian version of the MBI-HSS confirmed its 3-factor structure, which has also been described for similar to that of the original English version. Appropriate fit was found using a 19-item questionnaire, which did not contain items 14, 21, and 22. Internal consistency for all three dimensions was adequate. Analyses of discriminant validity revealed expected associations with work stress. We identified significant associations between burnout and neoplastic, psychiatric as well as cardiovascular diseases. Conclusions: The 19-item Hungarian version of the MBI-HSS is a reliable and valid measure of burnout among physicians. This measure can be utilized to assess burnout among employees in the human services sector.