Burnout among medical residents, coping mechanisms and the perceived impact on patient care in a developing country

Abstract Background Burnout is a syndrome that result from chronic workplace stress and it characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and low personal accomplishments. Studies have found higher burnout levels in medical personnel compared to the general population. Workplace burnout has been directly linked to medical errors and negative coping strategies such as substance abuse. The aim of this study was to primarily assess the level of burnout in post graduate medical residents, evaluate their impressions about coping mechanisms and also to look at impact on patient care. Methods This was a cross sectional, mixed methods survey. The Maslach Burnout Inventory - Human Services Survey was used to assess the level of burnout. To assess the impressions on patient care and evaluate the coping mechanisms employed in the context of burnout, after purposive sampling, residents participated in four focus group discussions reaching thematic saturation. Results 95 out of 120 residents consented to participate in the study, 47.3% of whom had a high risk of burnout. A significant association was found between gender and burnout risk with more females having high risk of burnout compared to their males counterparts; 58.0% and 35.6% respectively (P value 0.029). Residents in paediatrics and child health had the greatest risk of burnout (8 out of 10) compared to those in other programmes (P value of 0.01). Thematic analysis from focus group discussions revealed that main sources of stress included departmental conflict and struggle to balance work and other aspects of life. All focus group discussions revealed that burnout and stress are associated with negative coping mechanisms. Respondents reported that when under stress, they tended to be more likely to make medical errors. Conclusion This study reported high risk of burnout among post graduate residents which is consistent with other global studies. The sources of stress cited by residents were mostly related to the workplace and many reported sub-optimal patient care as a result of burnout. This highlights a need for preventive measures such as wellness programs within the training models.