Assessing Burnout and Associated Risk Factors in Medical Students

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Psychology
• Sociology

Background:

• Burnout is a significant concern in medical training.
• Understanding risk factors for burnout is essential for student well-being.
• Disparities in burnout among medical students, particularly students of color, require investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess factors associated with increased risk of burnout among medical students.
• To specifically examine burnout risk in students of color.
• To build upon existing literature regarding medical student burnout.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was administered electronically in June 2017.
• The survey included the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) and de novo questions.
• Convenience sampling was used, with 162 total survey responses.

Main Results:

• Overall student burnout was not high, but nearly 50% experienced personal burnout.
• Women reported significantly higher work-related and personal burnout scores.
• Black students reported significantly higher personal burnout scores compared to other racial groups.

Conclusions:

• While assessed factors showed no significant effect, trends indicate higher burnout rates in women and Black students.
• Further discussion on burnout solutions is needed for early intervention.
• Targeted interventions are required for medical students at highest risk of burnout.