Predictors of professional burnout among physicians in a country in Eastern Europe during the COVID-19 pandemic era.

Abstract

Introduction: It is commonly known that physicians are subjected to high levels of stress in their jobs, which can result in physical, psychological, and emotional problems, including burnout. To prevent these negative results, international research has been conducted on the levels of stress, burnout, and associated psychiatric illness in health workers across a wide range of specialties. To determine the predictors of burnout syndrome among physicians, to compare burnout among specialist physicians, to determine if there are age differences as it relates to burnout, and to determine several predictive factors responsible for burnout among physicians.

Method: The study employed the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) to measure burnout levels among physicians and the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL) questionnaires to assess their overall well-being. A total of 3,400 physicians participated, providing a substantial dataset for analysis. The methodology involved descriptive statistics to summarize key findings, bar charts for data visualization, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) to determine significant differences between groups where applicable. Additionally, multiple regression analysis was conducted to identify key predictors of burnout and their impact on physicians' quality of life, offering valuable insights into factors influencing their professional well-being.

Results: This study assessed professional burnout among physicians using the adapted Maslach Burnout Inventory. Of the 3400 respondents, 14% reported mild burnout, 18% moderate, 29% high, and 39% very high burnout. No significant differences in burnout were found across specialties (F = 0.951, p = 0.386). However, age, physical and psychological health, social relationships, and environment significantly predicted burnout (p < 0.01). Younger physicians (18-30 years) experienced the highest burnout. Engagement with COVID-19 outpatients positively correlated with burnout (r = 0.023, p < 0.05), while private practice had a moderately negative but insignificant relationship (r = - 0.426).

Conclusion: This study demonstrates a high level of burnout among physicians and several predictors of burnout in healthcare workers, which include age, psychological status, social status, and environment.