Characteristics and determinants of professional burnout among early career psychiatrists in Russia — results of a cross-sectional study

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to examine the characteristics of early career psychiatrists’ (ECP) work in Russia and to assess the prevalence and severity of burnout in them. Material and methods. The Early Career Psychiatrists Council of the Russian Society of Psychiatrists conducted an anonymous online survey of ECP in Russia in July-August 2019, consisted of a structured survey and screening for professional burnout using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). The final sample consisted of 165 people. Results. A high level of burnout according to at least one of the MBI scales was revealed in 79 (78.2%) women and 39 (60.9%) men (p=0.017). Mean values of the MBI Emotional Exhaustion scale corresponded to 23.33±8.97 and 17.97±8.49 (p=0.003), the MBI Depersonalization scale — 10.46±4.81 and 9.16±4.22 (p=0.083), and the MBI Personal Accomplishment scale — 33.02±5.98 and 35.32±5.75 (p=0.026) for women and men, respectively. The following risk factors for professional burnout were identified: female sex, overlapping of several working positions, difficulties in work due to changes in documentation requirements introduced since the start of professional career. Protective factors of burnout development were: work in private clinic, satisfaction with work atmosphere, subjective estimation of quality of life as above average or as good as possible. Conclusion. Burnout was established in 71.5% of ECP in Russia, which corresponds to one of the highest burnout rates in psychiatrists according to international and national studies. Further research is needed to assess the prevalence and severity and ways to prevent burnout in psychiatrists in Russia.