[Analysis of the status and correlation of occupational burnout and professional identity in the optometrists]

Objective: To explore the current status of occupational burnout and professional identity among optometrists, and to examine the relationship between them. Methods: In September 2024, using the convenience sampling method, a questionnaire survey was conducted on 235 optometrists from two Class Ⅲ Grade A eye hospitals in Tianjin City. Data were collected on their general demographic characteristics, occupational burnout (including emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment), and professional identity (including occupational belonging, occupational benefit, and occupational motivation). Correlation analysis was used to explore the relationship between occupational burnout and professional identity, and a regression model was constructed to analyze the main influencing factors of professional identity. Results: The score of occupational belonging for optometrists was (4.20±0.79) points, the score of occupational benefit was (4.32±0.75) points, and the score of occupational motivation was (4.13±0.78) points. Among the optometrists, 59 were positive for occupational burnout (25.1%), including 43 with mild burnout (18.3%), 10 with moderate burnout (4.3%), and 6 with severe burnout (2.6%). Occupational belonging, occupational benefit, and occupational motivation of optometrists were negatively correlated with emotional exhaustion and depersonalization (r ranging from -0.460 to -0.390, P<0.01), and positively correlated with personal accomplishment (r ranging from 0.365 to 0.426, P<0.01). Emotional exhaustion and depersonalization had significant negative predictive effects on occupational belonging, occupational benefit, and occupational motivation (P<0.05). Personal accomplishment had significant positive predictive effects on all three (P<0.05) . Conclusion: The overall professional identity of optometrists is generally at a moderately high level. Emotional exhaustion and depersonalization are risk factors that weaken professional identity, whereas personal accomplishment is a protective factor. Attention should be paid to the alleviation of occupational stress and career development support for optometrists.