Factors Affecting Burnout and Job Satisfaction in Turkish Emergency Medicine Residents

Abstract

Objective: Despite the increasing concerns on burnout and job satisfaction in health-care professional, very few studies have examined resident physicians in Turkey. This study was aimed to determine the factors affecting burnout and job satisfaction among emergency medicine residents in Turkey.
Method: An number of 410 emergency medicine residents including e-mail addresses registered to Emergency Medicine Associations received questionnaire forms previously prepared on an internet-based questionnaire site. Participants were asked to fill out Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), Job Satisfaction Scale (JSS) and socio-demographic data form.
Results: Decrease in depersonalization grades and increase in personal accomplishment grades with the advancing age were found. Residents who had an experience greater than 10 years in the profession showed lower depersonalization grades in comparison with the beginners. Residents who could not reach a consultant for patient evaluation presented higher emotional exhaustion grades. Also residents who felt appreciated in work place and work in concert with the staff had lower burnout grades and higher job satisfaction grades. An increase in the average number of patients seen per day was found out to boost emotional exhaustion grades. Also the visible increase in the time spent for social activities during the week reduced emotional exhaustion and depersonalization grades while increasing personal accomplishment grades. Residents who were exposed to daily violence had lower job satisfaction grades and higher emotional exhaustion and depersonalization grades than those experienced violence on a monthly basis. Increase of job satisfaction was accompanied by a decreased burnout level.
Conclusion: Emergency medicine residents have high burnout levels. For diminished burnout level and enhancement of job satisfaction in emergency medicine, adjustments like social support, workload, workplace stress and prevention of violence would be useful.