Burnout Syndrome amongst Medical Students in Cameroon: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Determinants in Preclinical and Clinical Students

Abstract

Background Due to a series of recognised psychological stressors in the traditional path of medical studies, medical students are prone to experience burnout syndrome. Objective This study aimed to determine the predictors of burnout syndrome amongst medical students in Cameroon. Methods This was a cross-sectional study which recruited 413 medical students consecutively after sampling three of the five medical schools in Cameroon using a random sequence generator. Data were collected via a printed self-administered questionnaire from consenting participants assessing burnout syndrome using the OLdenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI). Data was analysed using Stata version 12 and p value significance was set at 95%. Multivariable linear regression was used to identify independent determinants of burnout syndrome. Results An alpha Cronbach coefficient of 0.74 showed that the OLBI assessed the same underlying construct of burnout syndrome in this population. The results of the multiple linear regression showed that five predictors explained 35.0% of the variance (R2= 35.0, F(9, 184) = 10.99, p <0.001). It was found that marital status significantly predicted burnout (Beta: 4.82, p value: 0.024), as well as relationship difficulties (Beta: 3.17, p value <0.001), cumulative GPA (Beta: -2.15, p value: 0.006), regretting the choice of medical studies (Beta: 7.85, p value <0.001), and recreational drug use (Beta: 6.99, p value: 0.005). Conclusion Early detection of burnout in medical students in Cameroon could be done by identifying and addressing the potential determinants. The institution of preventive measures against burnout syndrome in medical schools in Cameroon is warranted to decrease the morbidity associated with the condition.

Burnout as a correlate of depression among medical students in Cameroon: a cross-sectional study

“…From our previous publication, a student’s results (measured as their cumulative grade point average) and regretting their choice of medical studies, which could be characterised as job-related stressors significantly predicted burnout in this group of medical students 16. Other predictors of burnout in these students were—marital status and relationship difficulties 16. Though these variables are not work-related or studies-related, they may be regarded as emotional stressors that influence burnout.…”

“…This report is part of the Mental health for Liberia, Tanzania and Cameroon (Me-HeLTC) project and the methods used have been described in previous publications 16 18 19. Three medical schools (University of Bamenda, University of Douala and University of Buea) were sampled from the five recognised medical schools in Cameroon with students in the clinical phases of study using a random sequence generator in order to reduce selection bias.…”

“…The alpha Cronbach statistic for emotional exhaustion items was 0.67 while that for disengagement items was 0.61 (online supplementary file 1). When both scales were combined, the reliability improved with an alpha Cronbach statistic of 0.74 showing that the OLBI was measuring a single construct in this population—burnout 16. Both subscales were therefore added to obtain a total score for burnout syndrome after negatively phrased items were reversed (1=4, 2=3, 3=2, 4=1) such that higher scores indicated higher exhaustion and disengagement.…”

“…In a previous publication, we established that the predictors of burnout in a group of medical students were: cumulative grade point average of results, regretting choice of medical studies, marital status, difficulties in interpersonal relationships and recreational drug use 16. In this current report, we seek to determine the relationship between burnout and depression in these students and the various sociodemographic predictors which moderate the two constructs.…”

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“…Burnout syndrome appears in response to chronic work stress, provoking a crisis in the relationship with work itself (Gomez-Urquiza, 2019). It is defined as a psychological state resulting from prolonged exposure to job stressors which has been studied by several scholars in healthcare and other fields and this syndrome results from an imbalance between high job demands and low resources (Njim et al, 2019). It leads to emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and lack of personal accomplishment (PA).…”