Burnout syndrome and alcohol use among medical students in Serbia

Abstract

Background

The burnout syndrome has been described mainly among the working population. However, it is observed that students experience burnout syndrome as well, and that physician burnout may already start during the studies od medicine. Findings also show increased problem of alcohol consumption among medical students.

Objective

Determine the risk of burnout in the sample of medical students, and to evaluate their alcohol consumption, as well as to determine whether there is any association between these two entities.

Methods

Participants were 290 students of Faculty of Medicine, from all six study years. Maslach Burnout Inventory – Student Survey (MBI-SS) was used to evaluate the degree of burnout. Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) was used to evaluate alcohol consumption.

Results

In the MBI-SS subcategory of Emotional Exhaustion, 81% reported high burnout risk. Results of low burnout risk in the subcategory of Cynicism, gradually decreased during the course of studies. The highest medium burnout risk was reported in the subcategory of Academic Efficacy, at 45.20%. The number of students belonging to the minimum risk level, Zone 1, on the AUDIT test, gradually decreased as the years of study increased. There is a slightly statistically significant, positive correlation between Emotional Exhaustion and alcohol use (p ≤ 0.05), as well as between Cynicism and alcohol use (p ≤ 0.05).

Conclusion

High burnout levels and their association with alcohol use in medical students imply a further investigation of these complex and harmful issues, and raise concern for the mental well-being of the future medical practitioners.