Burnout in Medical Residents: A Systematic Review of Literature

Introduction: Burnout is the result of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of occupational burnout and its related factors among different Iranian medical residents. Materials and Methods: In this systematic review, a systemic search of online databases (Medline, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, ERIC, ProQuest, SID, CIVILICA, and Google Scholar search engine) was conducted for relevant studies with no time limit up to March 2024. The quality of the information was evaluated using the STROBE positioning guidelines.Results: Finally, 7 studies with 863 residents were included. The different studies report widely varying burnout rates among medical residents, ranging from 67.4% to 96.9%. In addition, 84.8% of medical residents had high emotional exhaustion (EE), 96.9% high depersonalization (DP), and 89.2% low personal achievement (PA) scores. Overall burnout prevalence was 84.44+21.51 (out of 114). There was a significant relationship between burnout and age, gender, year of residency, marital status, lower academic rank, having a child, the number of on call per month , working in the public sector, clinical learning environment, and spending less time in leisure and sports activities. Frequency of depersonalization score in internal residents was higher than the surgical residents (p=0.04). Emotional exhaustion was higher in single and first year residents than to married and higher grade residents. (p<0.05). Conclusion: The prevalence of occupational burnout among Iranian medical residents was higher than expected and worrying. Given the importance of the consequences of burnout, periodic evaluation of residents’ burnout is necessary and psychological interventions should be prepared for them.

Burnout in Medical Residents: A Systematic Review of Literature Keywords:

burnout , Medical Residents , Iran , Prevalence