Burnout, Associated Factors, and Mental Health Measures Among Ecuadorian Physicians: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Physician burnout is a growing issue that affects both the quality of healthcare and the mental well-being of medical professionals. However, research on this phenomenon in Ecuador is limited and methodologically deficient. The objective of this study was to examine the national prevalence of burnout among Ecuadorian physicians, its associated factors, and its impact on mental health. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1976 physicians from all provincial capitals of Ecuador (51.8% women; mean age: 37.1 years). Results: It was found that 25.3% of physicians had high levels of emotional exhaustion and 23.8% had high levels of depersonalization. Factors associated with the higher levels of emotional exhaustion among physicians included part-time jobs, long working hours, work-family conflicts, psychological inflexibility, and perceived loneliness. Higher levels of depersonalization were associated with working shifts, having work-family conflicts, exhibiting psychological inflexibility, and perceived loneliness, while lower levels of depersonalization were associated with being female. Experiencing higher levels of depersonalization were associated with suffering from higher levels of depression, while having higher levels of emotional exhaustion were associated with suffering from higher levels of stress. Conclusions: A considerable proportion of Ecuadorian physicians suffer from burnout. Preventive programs and psychological interventions tailored to their specific needs should be developed.