Burnout prevalence and associated factors in medical students in integrated modular curriculum: A cross-sectional study

Objectives: The present study aimed to explore the prevalence of burnout syndrome and to find the association of burnout symptoms with sociodemographic factors in medical students.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between September 2019 to January 2021 at Shifa College of Medicine, Islamabad. A total of 284 medical students from the first year to the fifth year participated in this cross-sectional study. After taking informed consent, students were asked to record responses on the Burnout Clinical Subtype Questionnaire BCSQ-12. In addition, a structured questionnaire was developed to obtain information about the sociodemographic status.

Results: Prevalence of burnout was observed among day scholars, females, and students having a relatively sedentary lifestyle. Low family income showed a significant association of burnout in medical students (p=0.025). A significant association was found in the mean scores of neglect subtype of burnout with low family household income (p = 0.010). The mean scores of the overload subtype of burnout and daily duration of sleep also showed a significant association (p = 0.039).

Conclusion: The prevalence of burnout was associated with low household income and sleep deprivation. Gender, academic year and physical activity did not have a significant association with burnout syndrome. The high prevalence of burnout syndrome necessitates appropriate interventions to identify and reduce the prevalence of burnout in medical students.