Burnout in International Medical Students: Characterization of Professionalism and Loneliness as Predictive Factors of Burnout
Metadatos
Mostrar el registro completo del ítemEditorial
MDPI
Materia
International medical students Burnout Empathy Lifelong learning Loneliness Family
Fecha
2022-01-26Referencia bibliográfica
Gradiski, I.P... [et al.]. Burnout in International Medical Students: Characterization of Professionalism and Loneliness as Predictive Factors of Burnout. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 1385. [https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031385]
Patrocinador
Medical School of the University of Zagreb; Fundación Rioja SaludResumen
Background: Burnout is a common mental problem in medical students. For those who
are following medical studies abroad there is a higher risk of suffering this syndrome, due to the
combination of academic stress and the stress derived from their new living situation. This study
was performed with the purpose of testing the following hypothesis: in medical students enrolled
in medical programs abroad, abilities associated with professionalism and family support play
a protective role in the prevention of suffering burnout. Methods: A cross-sectional study was
performed in the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Zagreb, where a fully English medical
program is offered. The general version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-GS) was used as a
dependent variable, while Jefferson Scales of empathy, teamwork, and physician lifelong learning and
the Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults were used as predictive variables. In addition,
information related to sex, country of birth, native language, age, academic achievement, and living
situation were collected in a socio-demographic form. Linear regression models were applied to
identify predictors of burnout. Results: In a sample composed of 188 medical students (38 Croatians
and 144 foreigners from 28 countries), 18% of the global score in the MBI-GS was explained by
lifelong learning and family loneliness. A separate analysis for each domain of the MBI-GS allowed
the creation of three models: the first model explained 19% of the variance of the “exhaustion”
domain by “country of birth”, “living with parents”, “academic year”, and “cynicism”; a second
model explained 24% of the variance of the “cynicism” domain by “academic year”, “empathy”,
“lifelong learning”, and “exhaustion”; and finally, a third model explained 24% of the variance of
the “professional efficacy” domain by “lifelong learning”, “family loneliness”, and “cynicism”. All
obtained models presented an effect size between medium and large, as well as matching the required
conditions for statistical inference. Conclusions: These findings confirm the important role that
family plays as a source of support for medical students. Empathy and lifelong learning, two specific
elements of medical professionalism, appear as protective factors in the prevention of burnout in
international students.