Correlation of burnout syndrome with specific coping strategies, behaviors, and spiritual attitudes among interns at Yale University, New Haven, USA

Abstract

Purpose:This study aimed to determine the correlation of burnout syndrome with specific coping strategies, behaviors, and spiritual attitudes among interns in internal medicine, primary care, and internal medicine/pediatrics residency programs at two institutions.Methods:Intern physicians completed anonymous voluntary surveys prior to starting the internship in June 2009 and in the middle of the internship in February 2010. Three validated survey instruments were used to explore burnout, coping, and spiritual attitudes: the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the COPE Inventory, and the Hatch Spiritual Involvement and Beliefs Scale. The interns were in programs at the Yale University School of Medicine and a Yale-affiliated community hospital, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.Results:The prevalence of self-identified burnout prior to starting the internship was 1/66 (1.5%) in June 2009, increasing to 10/53 (18.9%) in February 2010 (P<0.0001). From June 2009 to February 2010, the prevalence of high emotional exhaustion increased from 30/66 (45.5%) to 45/53 (84.9%) (P<0.0001), and that of high depersonalization increased from 42/66 (63.6%) to 45/53 (84.9%) (P=0.01). Interns who employed the strategies of acceptance and active coping were less likely to experience emotional exhaustion and depersonalization (P<0.05). Perceptions of high personal accomplishment was 75.5% and was positively correlated with total scores on the Hatch Spiritual Involvement and Beliefs Scale, as well as the internal/fluid and existential/meditative domains of that instrument. Specific behaviors did not impact burnout.Conclusion:Burnout increased during the intern year. Acceptance, active coping, and spirituality were correlated with less burnout. Specific behaviors were not correlated with burnout domains.

Employee burnout and positive dimensions of well-being: A latent workplace spirituality profile analysis

“…As stated previously, research highlighted the positive role of workplace spirituality in the promotion of employee well-being [34][35][36][59][60][61]. However, very few studies considered its effects on burnout [41,42,[62][63][64][65]. Nevertheless, this topic seems relevant because the burnout syndrome is a serious threat to health [66]: it was recently included in the International Classification of Diseases, 11 th revision, by the World Health Organization (ICD-11) [67].…”

Spiritual Care in the Intensive Care Unit: A Narrative Review

“…In their 2 survey-based studies of internal medicine housestaff, Doolittle et al found that high scores on the Hatch Spiritual Involvement and Beliefs Scale were correlated with lower self-identified burnout. 42,43 Although data specifically pertaining to the ICU are scarce, Meltzer and Huckabay reported that religiosity was protective against burnout in critical care nurses. 44 As such, tending to health-care workers’ spiritual health and spiritual needs may be important in preventing emotional exhaustion in the ICU.…”

Occupational stress and burnout among Hong Kong dentists

“…3 Maslach and her colleague 5,6 have studied the burnout syndrome for many years and devised a measurement tool-the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS). 4,7 Although some studies of burnout have been conducted among dentists using the MBI-HSS, 1,[8][9][10] most studies on stress and burnout in health professions have focused on physicians [11][12][13] and nurses. 14,15 In 2001, a survey was conducted to investigate the sources of occupation stress among dentists in Hong Kong.…”