National study on academic burnout syndrome in Colombian urology residents

Abstract

Objective: The urology resident is involved in academic and extra-academic situations that can generate exhaustion, disin-terest, self-sabotage, and doubts about the value of this own study methods; this context leads to burnout syndrome in an academic context. This syndrome can trigger dropout, low academic performance, low self-esteem, and personal frustration. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of academic burnout syndrome in urology residents in Colombia, and to propose strategies to avoid or reduce academic burnout syndrome in the Colombian context. Method: Cross-sectional study with convenience sampling in urology residents of all postgraduate academic programs of Colombia. The instrument applied was the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey (MBI-SS) measurement scale. Results: The prevalence of academic burnout in urology residents in Colombia is 59.5% (IC95%: 59.4-59.6%). The areas of possible intervention are categorized into four dimensions: a) time management; b) training strategies; c) extracurricular activities management, and d) mental health care. Conclusions: Academic burnout syndrome affects 59.5% of urology residents in Colombia. Activities to prevent and treat academic burnout can be focused on: organization of time for academic activities, time reserved for research and extracurricular activities, development of emotional and academical support routes, promotion of university wellness activities.