Burnout syndrome in internal medicine specialists and factors associated with its onset

Background and Objectives: Burnout is a psychosocial syndrome caused by stressful working conditions and affects 30-60% of medical personnel. The aim of this study was to assess the burnout rate of Spanish internists and the factors related to its onset. Material and Methods: We conducted a survey of work conditions followed by the Maslach Burnout Inventory, which was disseminated through the email regist. Results: A total of 934 internists (58.8% women and a median age of 40.0 years) answered the survey. Of those who responded, 55.0% indicated high emotional fatigue, 61.7% indicated a high sense of depersonalisation, 58.6% indicated low personal fulfillment. Of those who responded, 33.4% said that they experienced burnout. Burnout syndrome was independently related to age (OR 0.96; 95% CI 0.94-0.98), poor work environment (OR 1.94; 95% CI 1.31-2.82), insufficient wages (OR 1.79; 95% CI 1.20-2.67), receiving threats (OR 1.703; 95% CI 1.204-2.410) and the feeling of a lack of professional progress (OR 2.83; 95% CI 1.92-4.17). Conclusions: Burnout syndrome affects 33.4% of internists in Spain, and its onset is independently related with age, poor work environment, a lack of professional progress, insufficient financial remuneration and experiencing threats by patients or colleagues. (C) 2019 Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. and Sociedad Espanola de Medicina Interna (SEMI). All rights reserved