Burnout syndrome among dental students

Burnout syndrome among dental students Síndrome de Burnout em graduandos de Odontologia Juliana Alvares Duarte Bonini CamposI Paula Cristina JordaniII Miriane Lucindo ZucolotoII Fernanda Salloume Sampaio BonaféII João MarocoIII Abstract The burnout syndrome is characterized by professional exhaustion and has been reported in college students. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of Burnout Syndrome among dentistry students from a public university, and its relationship to socio-demographic characteristics. All students (n = 300) were invited to participate. We used the Maslach Burnout Inventory - Student Version (MBI-SS). We carried out an analysis of the MBI-SS’ psychometric properties. Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) was performed, followed by Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Tukey’s post-hoc tests to compare the mean scores of burnout dimensions. Of the 235 participants, 72.8% were women and the mean age was 21.0 ± 1.8 years. The MBI-SS was reliable and valid. Of the students, 17.0% had Burnout Syndrome. There was a significant relation between Burnout Syndrome and a student’s performance during the course (F = 4.433, p < 0.001), medication intake because of studies (F = 7.721, p < 0.001), and the thought of dropping the course (F = 16.168, p < 0.001). The students most affected were those with poor performance, those who took medication because of studies, and those with thoughts of dropping the course. We concluded that the prevalence of the syndrome among dentistry students was high, with a significant relation between the syndrome and a student’s academic performance, use of medication because of studies, and thoughts of dropping the course. Keywords: Students. Professional fatigue. Odontology. Public Health. Departamento de Odontologia Social da Faculdade de Odontologia de Araraquara da Universidade Estadual Paulista – UNESP. I Curso de graduação em Odontologia da Faculdade de Odontologia de Araraquara da Universidade Estadual Paulista – UNESP. II III Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada – ISPA, Lisboa, Portugal. Financing: FAPESP: process: 2009/03447-0 Corresponding author: Juliana Alvares Duarte Bonini Campos - Rua Humaitá n.1680, Centro, Araraquara – SP - CEP:14801-903. E-mail: Bras Epidemiol 155 Rev 2012; 15(1): 155-65 Resumo Introduction A Síndrome de Burnout caracteriza-se por esgotamento profissional e tem sido relatada em estudantes universitários. O objetivo desse estudo foi estimar a prevalência da Síndrome de Burnout em estudantes de Odontologia de uma universidade pública e sua relação com características sociodemográficas. Todos os estudantes (n = 300) foram convidados a participar. Utilizou-se o Inventário de Burnout de Maslach – versão estudantes (MBI-SS). Realizou-se análise das propriedades psicométricas do MBI-SS. Para comparação entre os escores médios das dimensões do Burnout realizou-se Análise de Variância Multivariada (MANOVA) seguida de Análise de Variância (ANOVA) e testes post-hoc de Tukey. Dos 235 participantes, 72,8% eram mulheres e a média de idade era de 21,0 ± 1,8 anos. O MBI-SS mostrou-se confiável e válido. Dos estudantes, 17,0% apresentaram a Síndrome de Burnout. Verificou-se relação significativa entre a Síndrome de Burnout e o desempenho do estudante no curso (F = 4,433, p < 0,001), o consumo de medicação devido aos estudos (F = 7,721, p < 0,001) e o pensamento de desistir do curso (F = 16,168, p < 0,001). Foram mais acometidos aqueles com desempenho ruim no curso, que consomem medicações devido aos estudos e que já pensaram em desistir do curso. Conclui-se que a prevalência da Síndrome entre os estudantes de Odontologia foi alta, sendo significativa a relação entre a Síndrome e o desempenho do estudante no curso, o consumo de medicação devido aos estudos e o pensamento de desistir do curso. Burnout is defined by Maslach and Jackson1 as a working environment syndrome, characterized by a process of chronic response to occupational stress, when coping methods fail or are insufficient, thus having negative consequences both at the individual and the professional level, and further affecting the family and social interactions. It is referred to as a multidimensional syndrome consisting of emotional exhaustion, dehumanization and reduced accomplishment at work. According to Batista et al.6, the Burnout syndrome is a public health issue due to its physical and mental health, and social implications for individuals. Salanova and Llorens7 point out that, Burnout is an occupational health issue, of a psychosocial nature, which is one of the most important work related problems in today’s society. Initially, this syndrome was described in professionals with an intense and emotional interpersonal contact1-4, however, more recently the concept of Burnout has been extended to all occupational groups, including students5. In the latter, one can cite the works of Schaufel et al.5, McManus et al. 8, Willcock et al.9, Carlotto et al.10, Ried et al.11 Garrosa et al.4, Barboza et al.12, Maroc et al.13 Dyrbye et al.14 and Zhang et al.15. In general, these studies state that the research and monitoring of this syndrome, from the beginning of the course, is of great importance, as it is at this point that the first Burnout symptoms appear. The early detection of this syndrome allows the planning and implementation of preventive measures, as well as the use of adequate coping strategies. Studies in the dental area are scarce. Pohlmann et al.16 researched the Burnout syndrome in graduate students, attending their fourth and fifth year of the dentistry course, in German and Swiss universities, and found that approximately one third of the students suffered from depersonalization. Furthermore, Humphris et al. 17 conducted a study with first-year Palavras-chave: Estudantes. Esgotamento profissional. Odontologia. Saúde Pública. Rev Bras Epidemiol 2012; 15(1): 155-65 Burnout syndrome among dental students 156 Campos, J.A.D.B. et al. undergraduate students in seven dentistry colleges in Europe, and found high levels of emotional exhaustion. Also, Sofol and Jeboda18 studied the origin of stress in dentistry undergraduates at the University of Lagos, Nigeria, and found that the improvised system of dental education was their biggest stress factor. Regarding Brazilian research on the Burnout Syndrome in Dentistry students, we only found one study conducted by Carlotto et al.10; however, the sample consisted of students from eight different health-related areas, and the results’ presentation was not conducted separately for each area, making it impossible to separately analyze the data concerning dentistry students. We developed this study taking into account the need for more information on this condition, specifically in students, in order to enable the development of adequate actions to improve both their quality of life and academic performance. Thus, our objectives were to verify and characterize the p (...truncated)