Classical Music as a Burnout Reduction Therapy to Clinical Instructors
Authors: Semblante Joanna Rae C. , Amparado Mauro Allan Padua 
Published: July 2020

Objectives: This study determined the effectiveness of music as a burnout reduction strategy to clinical instructors in Southwestern University, Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines. The findings were the basis for a proposed faculty burnout management strategy.Specifically, the study answered the following inquiries:1.What is the profile of the clinical instructors in terms of:1.1.age;1.2.gender;1.3.civil status;1.4.highest educational attainment;1.5.monthly income; 1.6.number of years in service? 2.What is the pre-test and post-test levels of the burnout among the clinical instructors in the control and experimental groups in terms of:2.1. emotional exhaustion;2.2. depersonalization; and2.3. lack of personal accomplishment?3.Is there a significant difference between the pre-test and post-test levels of burnout among the clinical instructors.4.What are the perceived work-related stressors of the clinical instructors?5.What will be the proposed faculty burnout strategy based on the findings of the study? Methods:This study utilized the experimental design. A stratified random sample of 20 clinical instructors in a control group and 20 clinical instructors in an experimental group completed the Maclach’s Burnout Inventory (MBI) which measured emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and lack of personal accomplishment. The MBI was administered to the respondents before, after the third week, and after the fifth week of exposing the experimental group to classical music and the control group to no music. The perceived work-related stressors of the clinical instructors were also investigated through a focus group discussion. Findings and Conclusion:Majority of the respondents in the experimental group and half of those in the control group are 24-29 years old. In both groups, most are females, married, and have BSN degrees with MAN units. In both groups, more than half of them have an average income of 15,000 to 20,000 Philippine pesos and has served the college for 0-5 years.The emotional exhaustion of the experimental group was moderate and the control group was low. On depersonalization and lack of personal accomplishment, both groups were low.The experimental group’s emotional exhaustion level after exposure to classical music for three weeks was moderate, while the control group was low. On depersonalization and lack of personal accomplishment, both groups were low.After the fifth week, the experimental group’s emotional exhaustion was moderate, while the control group was low. On depersonalization and lack of personal accomplishment, both groups were low.After exposing the experimental group to classical music for five weeks, it was statistically revealed that there was no significant difference in the pre-test and post-test burnout levels for the two groups.The perceived work-related stressors of the clinical instructors were: conflicts with colleagues; six work days and graduate study classes; assignment in new clinical areas; proper channeling of concerns/conflicts with immediate heads; unfair distribution of loads; lecture loads given with shorter time to prepare; and being forced to stay in the facility/office for the whole eight hours.In conclusion, the use of classical music is not an effective strategy in reducing the burnout level of clinical instructors. Recommended citation:Semblante, J. R. C. &amp; Amparado, M. A. P. (2009, March). Classical Music as a Burnout Reduction Therapy to Clinical Instructors. 2009 Southwestern University Research Congress, 1(1), 38-40.