Abstract
Objective
The purposes of the current study are to examine factors modifying burnout and identify which of these factors place osteopathic medical students at risk for developing burnout.
Methods
The current study used a cross-sectional study design and an anonymous, web-based survey to assess burnout and depression in osteopathic medical students. The survey included Maslach Burnout Inventory, the Patient Health Questionnaire, the Stressors and their impact scale, students’ sleeping and studying habits, and students’ extracurricular involvement.
Results
In total, 1294 osteopathic medical students completed the survey. Burnout was present in 516 (39.9 %) osteopathic medical students, and 1006 (77.0 %) met criteria for depression. Females were 1.5 times more likely to be burned out in comparison to males. For the burnout subscales, males had lower emotional exhaustion, slightly higher depersonalization, and lower personal accomplishment. Lesbian/gay/bisexual/asexual students were 2.62 times more likely to be burned out compared with heterosexual students. Depression and academic, personal, and family stressors were all strongly linked to overall burnout. Finally, for modifiable factors, average hours of sleep, average hours spent studying, and club involvement appeared to be linked to burnout.
Conclusions
The current study suggested that a variety of factors, including non-modifiable, situational, and modifiable, impact burnout in osteopathic medical students. Future research is necessary since burnout in physicians affects the quality of care provided to patients.
References
Sevensma S. COMLEX-USA and in-service examination scores: tools for evaluating medical knowledge among residents. JAOA J. 2008;108(12):713–6.
Cantor JC. Preparedness for practice. JAMA. 1993;270(9):1035.
Saxon D, Tunnicliff G. Status of complementary and alternative medicine in the osteopathic medical school curriculum. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2004;104(3):121–6.
Afzal KI, Khan FM, Mulla Z, Akins R, Ledger E, Giordano FL. Primary language and cultural background as factors in resident burnout in medical specialties: a study in a bilingual US city. South Med J. 2010;103(7):607–15.
Dyrbye LN, Thomas MR, Harper W, Massie FS, Power DV, Eacker A, et al. The learning environment and medical student burnout: a multicentre study. Med Educ. 2009;43(3):274–82.
Dyrbye LN, Massie FS, Eacker A, Harper W, Power D, Durning SJ, et al. Relationship between burnout and professional conduct and attitudes among US medical students. JAMA. 2010;304(11):1173–80.
Dyrbye L, Thomas M, Shanafelt T. Systematic review of depression, anxiety, and other indicators of psychological distress among US and Canadian medical students. Acad Med. 2006;81(4):354–73.
Dyrbye L, Thomas M. Personal life events and medical student burnout: a multicenter study. Acad Med. 2006;81(4):374–84.
Dyrbye L, Thomas M. Race, ethnicity, and medical student well-being in the United States. Intern Med. 2007;167(19):2103–9.
Chang E, Eddins-Folensbee F, Coverdale J. Survey of the prevalence of burnout, stress, depression, and the use of supports by medical students at one school. Acad Psychiatry. 2012;36(3):177–82.
Maslach C, SE J, Leither M. Maslach Burnout Inventory. In: Evaluating stress: a book of resources. 3rd ed. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Inc; 1997. p. 191–218.
Parker P, Kulik J. Burnout, self-and supervisor-rated job performance, and absenteeism among nurses. J Behav Med. 1995;18(6):581–99.
Maslach C. Job burnout. Annu Rev. 2001;52:397–422.
Väänänen A, Koskinen A. Lack of predictability at work and risk of acute myocardial infarction: an 18-year prospective study of industrial employees. Am J Public Health. 2008;98(12):2264–71.
Shanafelt T, Bradley K. Burnout and self-reported patient care in an internal medicine residency program. Intern Med. 2002;136(5):358–67.
Yost MG, Johnson JC, Johns MM, Burchett KD. Burnout among osteopathic otolaryngology residents: identification during formative training years. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2014;114(8):632–41.
Kroenke K, Spitzer RL. The PHQ-9: a new depression diagnostic and severity measure. Psychiatr Ann. 2002;32:509–21.
Dyrbye LN, West CP, Satele D, Boone S, Tan L, Sloan J, et al. Burnout among U.S. medical students, residents, and early career physicians relative to the general U.S. population. Acad Med. 2014;89(3):1–9.
Shanafelt TD, Boone S, Tan L, Dyrbye LN, Sotile W, Satele D, et al. Burnout and satisfaction with work-life balance among US physicians relative to the general US population. Arch Intern Med. 2012;172(18):1377–85.
Ishak W, Nikravesh R, Lederer S, Perry R, Ogunyemi D, Bernstein C. Burnout in medical students: a systematic review. Clin Teach. 2013;10(4):242–5.
Purvanova RK, Muros JP. Gender differences in burnout: a meta-analysis. J Vocat Behav. 2010;77(2):168–85.
Kjeldstadli K, Tyssen R, Finset A, Hem E, Gude T, Gronvold NT, et al. Life satisfaction and resilience in medical school—a six-year longitudinal, nationwide and comparative study. BMC Med Educ. 2006;6:48.
Adams J. Straining to describe and tackle stress in medical students. Med Educ. 2004;38(5):463–4.
Golub JS, Weiss PS, Ramesh AK, Ossoff RH, Johns MM. Burnout in residents of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery: a national inquiry into the health of residency training. Acad Med. 2007;82(6):596–601.
Singh T, Williams K. Atypical depression. Psychiatry (Edgmont). 2006;3(4):33–9.
Disclosures
On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lapinski, J., Yost, M., Sexton, P. et al. Factors Modifying Burnout in Osteopathic Medical Students. Acad Psychiatry 40, 55–62 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40596-015-0375-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40596-015-0375-0