Burnout Syndrome Among Medical Residents

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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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
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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.

Official Title
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Burnout Syndrome Among Medical Residents

Conditions
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Burnout Syndrome

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: residents attending the University of Bologna Exclusion Criteria: none
Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| surgical residents<br>Surgical specialties included general surgery, plastic surgery, urology, vascular surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedic surgery, pediatric surgery, cardiothoracic surgery and otolaryngology. | |
| non-surgical residents<br>Non-surgical specialties included cardiology, rheumatology, neurology, pulmonary disease, endocrinology, nuclear medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, internal medicine, oncology, nephrology, hygiene and preventive medicine, anesthesiology, child and adolescent psychiatry, radiology, radiation oncology, infectious disease, dermatology, pathology, microbiology, hematology, gastroenterology, geriatric medicine, medical genetics, sports medicine, occupational and environmental medicine. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Maslach Burnout Inventory | 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). | 3 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale | 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. | 3 months | 
| Psychosomatic Problems Scale | 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. | 3 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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burnout, residents, surgical residents