Burnout Syndrome Among Medical Residents

Completed

• Conditions: Burnout Syndrome

• Registration Number: NCT03668080
• Lead Sponsor: IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna

Brief Summary

Whether and to what extent burnout risk is actually higher in surgical specialties than in non-surgical specialties is still unknown. Little is also known about what factors are associated with burnout between surgical residents and non-surgical residents. In this context, the present study has a three-fold aim: 1) to measure the prevalence of burnout among a sample of Italian medical residents; 2) to contrast the prevalence of burnout and psychological distress in surgical residents and non-surgical residents, and 3) to identify the work-related factors associated with burnout between surgical residents and non-surgical residents.

Detailed Description

Surgical training is considered to be very stressful among residents and graduating medical students choose less often surgery for their career. To elaborate burnout prevention programs, the assessment of the prevalence of burnout during the early career stage of the surgeons and associated risk factors, becomes central.

Residents from the University of Bologna were asked to participate in an anonymous online survey. The residents completed a set of questions regarding their training schedule and three standardized questionnaires: 1) the Maslach Burnout Inventory, assessing the three dimensions of burnout: emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and personal accomplishment (PA); 2) the Zung Self-Rating Depression scale; 3) the Psychosomatic Problems scale. High scores in either the EE or DP subscale categories predicted professional burnout.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2017-10-16
• Primary Completion: 2017-11-05
• Study Completion: 2017-11-06
• Status Verified: 2018-09
• Study First Submitted: 2018-09-09
• Study First Submitted QC: 2018-09-11
• Last Update Submitted: 2018-09-11
• Study First Posted: 2018-09-12
• Last Update Posted: 2018-09-12

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 679

Inclusion Criteria

• residents attending the University of Bologna

Exclusion Criteria

• none

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Maslach Burnout Inventory	3 months	a validated 22-item questionnaire that evaluates burnout in its three dimensions: emotional exhaustion (EE) depersonalization (DP) and personal accomplishment (PA). Responses are made on a 7-point Likert scale ranging from 0 ("never") to 6 ("daily").

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Psychosomatic Problems Scale	3 months	Psychosomatic symptoms were measured using the Psychosomatic Problems Scale, which consists of 8 items: difficulty concentrating, sleep problems, headache, stomachache, tensions, lack of appetite, feeling sad, and dizziness. Responses are rated on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 ("never") to 5 ("always"). Participants answering "often" or "always" on an item are coded as having a psychosomatic symptom.
Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale	3 months	The level of depressive symptoms was measured using the 20-item Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale. Items responses rank from 1 ("none or little of the time") to 4 ("most or all of the time"), and the total score range from 20 to 80 points. A score of 50 and above indicated the presence of at least mild-moderate depressive symptoms.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Bologna; 🇮🇹 Bologna, BO, Italy