Burnout syndrome among brazilian medical students under different educational models

Abstract

Introduction

Medical students are exposed to many stressors which may contribute to the onset of Burnout Syndrome (BS). It consists of a triad of emotional exhaustion, cynicism and low professional efficacy. As a result, BS may reduce academic performance, quality of life and damage future professional life.

Objectives

Estimate the prevalence and recognize associated factors of BS among medical students from two different medical schools form the same Brazilian Public University with different teaching models: School 1, with a traditional model, and School 2, with Problem-Based Learning model.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was performed with randomly selected students between April and June 2019. A structured questionnaire on socio-demographic characteristics and the educational process in addition to The Maslach Burnout Inventory/Student Survey (MBI-SS) were used. Statistical evaluation of multiple variables was performed through backward stepwise logistic regression analysis.

Results

Study included 213 students, with an average age of 23±3.77, 50,2% were male and 62,5% belong to School 1. Among this sample, 21,6% of the students fit tridimensional criteria for BS. Burnout levels were higher in those people who rarely get emotional support they need in the course (OR=3,98, CI 95%, 1,75-9,06), who considered abandoning the course (OR= 2,88, CI 95% 1,29-6,43) and who consider their academic performance regular or weak (OR= 12,1, CI 95%, 4-36,5).

Conclusions

Results suggest a high prevalence of BS with factors associated with the psychosocial and educational sphere of medical students. In our research, the teaching model was not a factor associated with BS.