Burnout and its associated factors among medical students of Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to assess the prevalence of burnout syndrome and its associated factors among medical students at Jazan University, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Design/methodology/approach: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 440 randomly selected medical students at Jazan University. The questionnaire used for this study was based on the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory. Findings: The overall prevalence of burnout was estimated at 60.2% (95% CI 55.6–64.8). The prevalence was higher for females (64.1%) than for males (56.2%) but without statistically significant differences (p > 0.05). On average, the students scored the highest averages in the personal burnout category, followed by the study-related and client-related burnout categories. In the multivariate analysis, a lower age (beta = −3.17, p = 0.026), female (beta = −0.896, p = 0.016), and having better burnout knowledge (beta = 0.710, p = 0.025) predict significantly higher personal burnout. Practical implications: It is necessary to implement strategies to reduce the incidence of burnout among medical students for the sake of a better quality of life for future doctors. Originality/value: There is a high prevalence of burnout among Jazan’s medical students.