Assessment of burnout syndrome and associated factors among medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic

• Published in: Journal of affective disorders reports Vol. 14; p. 100616
• Main Authors: Jezzini-Martinez, Sofía, Martinez-Garza, Javier Humberto, Quiroga-Garza, Alejandro, Quiroz-Perales, Xavier Gerardo, Gil-Flores, Lourdes, de la Fuente-Villarreal, David, Salinas-Alvarez, Yolanda, Guzman-Avilan, Katia, Elizondo-Omaña, Rodrigo Enrique, Guzman-Lopez, Santos
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01-12-2023; The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V; Elsevier
• Subjects: Academic efficacy; Burnout syndrome; Covid-19 pandemic; Emotional exhaustion; Medical students; Research Paper; Medical students; Covid-19 pandemic; Emotional exhaustion; Burnout syndrome; Academic efficacy
• ISSN: 2666-9153; 2666-9153
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jadr.2023.100616

•The majority of medical students suffer from burn out symptoms, with higher prevalence in women.•The increase if family member mortality and economic crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic increased the risk of developing burnout.•High emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and low academic effectiveness prevails among medical students.
Background: Overwhelming requirements, a high degree of work, and prolonged exposure to emotionally demanding circumstances in work and life settings can lead to burnout syndrome. The purpose of the study is to assess burnout syndrome and its associated factors among medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: A cross-sectional, prospective, descriptive study was conducted in a Mexican medical school during the last week of the spring semester of 2021 using the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey (MBI-SS) and an associated factors survey.
Results: Based on the MBI-SS definition, most students (54.2%, n = 332) had burnout symptoms and high emotional exhaustion (79.6%, n = 448), high cynicism (57.3%, n = 351), and low academic effectiveness (36.4%, n = 223). After adjusting the associated factors, a significant correlation between the school year and the presence of burnout was identified (OR 1.127, 95% CI [1.023–1.241], p<0.05). Regarding the current pandemic, the death of a family member by COVID-19 also put students at risk of developing burnout (OR 1.598*, 95% CI [1.080–2.363, p<0.05]).
Limitations: The main limitation of this study was the lack of a control group (before the pandemic); therefore, the high prevalence of burnout can only be hypothesized due to the pandemic but cannot be objectively evidenced. A prospective study after the pandemic is needed to resolve this question.
Conclusion: The coronavirus pandemic represents a challenge to the academic and psychological stability of students. It essential to continue assessing burnout levels in medical students and the general population to treat them in time and improve mental health.