Evaluating burnout syndrome among medical students at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece: a cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION

Burnout syndrome was first evaluated in the working environment of pilots and air-traffic controllers in 1973 and was officially described in scientific terms by the psychologist Christina Maslach. Recent research proves that the syndrome is currently present among healthcare professionals worldwide. Thus, we investigated whether it is also present in the medical student community, which faces the main characteristics of the syndrome from the beginning of their educational career.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The research was conducted on a sample of 400 Greek medical students at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, using the Maslach Basic Inventory questionnaire with three sections: exhaustion, depersonalization, and low satisfaction with personal achievements. The sample was analyzed based on the parameters of gender and the year of study of each individual participant.

RESULTS

In total, 33.5% of the participants were found to have a high risk or tendency for burnout syndrome, 11.75% of whom were at high risk and suffered from the syndrome. Moreover, 21.75% of the participants had a tendency toward suffering the syndrome. No remarkable correlation was discovered for the gender variable, whereas, for the year of study, there was an important correlation between the more senior years (5 and 6) and higher risk.

DISCUSSION

The syndrome's prevalence from the survey is scientifically important, urging the academic community to examine whether, instead of shaping healthy doctors, in reality, the education system produces patients with the syndrome. Protective measures include cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness, the six-stage adult learning technique, periodical screening of the syndrome, as well as encouragement for higher personal achievements.