Burnout syndrome prevalence among Latvian family medicine doctors and residents after the Covid-19 pandemic

Marija Volgina, Elvīra Raiviča, Nataļja Gizatullina

Keywords: Burnout, emotional exhaustion, family medicine, psychiatry, Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) scale, depersonalisation, personal achievements

Introduction:

Currently, burnout syndrome significantly affects general practitioners (GPs), especially post-pandemic. Pre-pandemic studies already highlighted concerning burnout levels, attributed to factors like high workload, emotional exhaustion, inadequate financial support, administrative burdens, and limited collaboration with the Ministry of Welfare. The aim of the research is to assess the levels of burnout among family medicine practitioners in the post-COVID era.

Method:

This study collected data through anonymous questionnaires distributed to certified Latvian family medicine practitioners and residents. The questionnaires were based on the internationally recognized Maslach Burnout Inventory scale, focusing on emotional burnout, depersonalization, and decreased professional motivation. A stratified random selection method was employed, including participants with diverse experience levels and demographics. Quantitative data analysis utilized Microsoft Excel. Ethical approval was obtained from the Latvian University ethics committee.

Results:

Results show respondents (n=156) aged 25 to 77 (mean 43.31±13.96; SD = 14.01), 79.49% female, 20.51% male. Mean emotional exhaustion: M = 33.32 ± 11.99 (min 6, max 54), depersonalization: M = 12.15 ± 7.42 (0 to 30), personal accomplishment: M = 17.21 ± 8.37 (min 0, max 48). 57.69% (59.09% - residents, 57.14% - certified) scored above the mean on emotional exhaustion, 21.15% (45.45% - residents, 11.61% - certified) on depersonalization. Decreased professional motivation: 37.18% (50% - residents, 32.14% - certified) scored below the mean. Burnout syndrome observed in 28.85% (45.45% - residents, 22.32% - certified).

Conclusions:

Findings show concerning emotional exhaustion, moderate depersonalization, and challenges with personal accomplishment, especially among female practitioners. There are also several areas for improvement and further research, for example, supplementing quantitative findings with qualitative research methods, such as interviews or focus groups, investigating the potential impact of burnout on patient outcomes and exploration of gender differences. Addressing these gaps can aid in developing targeted interventions to support family medicine practitioners well-being and improve primary care delivery in Latvia.

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