Assessing the relationship between burnout syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome among medical health providers and medical students in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alzahrani Mohammed Attieh ,   Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia,   Gastroenterology Department, Assir Central Hospital, Abha, Saudi Arabia,   * Corresponding Author: Mohammed Attieh Alzahrani, Gastroenterology Department, Assir Central Hospital, Abha, Saudi Arabia. E-mail: dr_mohdaz@hotmail.com, Alamri Hassan Ali ,   Internal Medicine, King Abdullah Hospital, Bisha, Saudi Arabia, Alshehri Mohammed Aedh ,   Internal Medicine, King Abdullah Hospital, Bisha, Saudi Arabia, Ayyashi Msawed Muhammed ,   Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi, Arabia, Alqarni Saeed Ali ,   Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi, Arabia, Alshehri Salem Hassan ,   Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi, Arabia, Alshehri Mohammed Salem ,   Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi, Arabia, Alqahtani Majed Musfer ,   Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi, Arabia, Alasmari Nader Hasan ,   Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi, Arabia, Alsabban Abdulmalik Mohammed ,   King Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Alshahrani Abdulaziz Saad ,   Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Najran University, Saudi Arabia,   Department of Medicine, King Khalid Hospital, Najran, Saudi Arabia
Published: May 2023

Burnout syndrome, characterized by chronic unmanageable workplace stress, has been linked to lower gastrointestinal disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome. However, the relationship between burnout syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome among medical health providers and medical students in Saudi Arabia has not been fully explored. This cross-sectional correlational study was conducted in Southern Saudi Arabia from 2021 to 2022 and involved 931 medical health providers and medical students who completed an electronic questionnaire. The study assessed the presence and severity of burnout and irritable bowel syndrome and examined their relationship. Burnout syndrome was evaluated using the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey (MBI-SS), while irritable bowel syndrome criteria and severity were assessed using validated tools. The study found that 85% of medical health providers and medical students experienced high levels of burnout and irritable bowel syndrome severity, with physicians and nurses mainly affected. Occupational exhaustion was high in 44.4% of participants, while depersonalization was high in 53% of participants. Personal accomplishment was low in 73.5% of participants. Mild, moderate, and severe irritable bowel syndrome was reported in 25.6%, 23.8%, and 12% of participants, respectively. The study highlights a significant association between burnout syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome severity among medical health providers and medical students in Saudi Arabia. These findings underscore the importance of developing effective interventions to prevent and manage burnout syndrome and related health issues among healthcare professionals and medical students in the region.