Comparison of Burnout Status of Family Physicians Working in Rural and Urban Areas of Turkiye

To compare the levels of burnout among family physicians working in rural and urban areas and to examine factors associated with burnout, including workplace violence, smoking, alcohol consumption, and professional experience.

A cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkiye, from January to July 2025.

A total of 513 family physicians (265 rural, 248 urban) participated in the study. Data were collected via online questionnaires assessing demographics, lifestyle behaviours, workplace characteristics, and exposure to verbal or physical violence. Burnout levels were measured using the Burnout Measure Short version (BMS).

The median burnout score was 4.00 (IQR = 2.9). The overall prevalence of burnout (BMS ≥3.5) was 46.9%, slightly higher in rural physicians (48.3%) compared to urban physicians (45.4%), with no statistically significant difference between groups (U = 32636.5, p = 0.894). Physicians exposed to workplace violence had significantly higher burnout scores (median 4.6 vs. 3.7; 95% CI: 0.52-1.14; p <0.001, indicating a moderate effect size. Similarly, those who smoked (median 4.5 vs. 3.8, p = 0.012) and consumed alcohol (median 4.4 vs. 3.9, p = 0.028) had higher burnout levels. Greater professional experience and older age were associated with slightly lower levels of burnout.

Burnout levels among family physicians did not significantly differ by geographic location. Workplace violence, smoking, and alcohol consumption were significantly associated with higher burnout levels. Enhancing workplace safety and promoting healthy coping mechanisms may help reduce burnout and improve physician well-being and healthcare quality.

Burnout, Family physicians, Workplace violence, Smoking, Alcohol use, Rural health, Urban health.