Psychometric Properties and Validation of the Arabic Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey in Saudi Dental Students

Ibrahim AlShahrani; Alezi Braimoh Ifindon Eroje; Shreyas Tikare; Rafi Ahmad Togoo; Abd El-Nasser Mahmoud Soliman; G Rajesh Rao

doi:10.4103/sjmms.sjmms_116_21

Psychometric Properties and Validation of the Arabic Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey in Saudi Dental Students

Saudi J Med Med Sci. 2022 May-Aug;10(2):117-124. doi: 10.4103/sjmms.sjmms_116_21. Epub 2022 Apr 28.

Authors

Ibrahim AlShahrani¹, Alezi Braimoh Ifindon Eroje², Shreyas Tikare², Rafi Ahmad Togoo¹, Abd El-Nasser Mahmoud Soliman³, G Rajesh Rao⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pedodontics and Orthodontic Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia.
² Department of Periodontics and Community Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia.
³ Department of Diagnostic Sciences and Oral Biology, College of Dentistry, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Department of Public Health Dentistry, Manipal College of Dentistry, Manipal, Karnataka, India.

Abstract

Background: Few studies have studied burnout among dental students worldwide, and no such study is available from Saudi Arabia. In addition, an Arabic version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey (MBI-SS) has not yet been validated for use among students.

Objectives: This study aimed to translate and validate an Arabic version of the MBI-SS questionnaire and to examine the psychometric properties of burnout among dental college students at a university in Saudi Arabia.

Materials and methods: This cross-sectional questionnaire study included all dental students at King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia, and was conducted between December 2019 and January 2020. After the MBI-SS questionnaire was translated, its face validity was determined and the test-retest reliability was assessed. Confirmatory factor analysis and reliability analysis were performed following the full-scale study to validate the Arabic MBI-SS.

Results: A total of 433 dental students responded in the full-scale study (mean age: 21.9 ± 1.6 years). Emotional exhaustion was present in 32.3% (95% confidence interval: 28%-36.9%), cynicism in 33.7% (29.3%-38.4%), and poor academic efficacy in 34.2% (29.8%-38.9%) of the dental students. Emotional exhaustion and cynicism were significantly associated with academic level, a history of medication due to academic stress, and thoughts of quitting the course (for all, P < 0.05). The reliability of MBI-SS was found to be adequate for all three subscales: Emotional exhaustion, Cronbach's α = 0.827; cynicism, α = 0.855; academic efficacy, α = 0.704.

Conclusions: All three subscales of burnout were highly prevalent in the study cohort. The Arabic version of the MBI-SS inventory was shown to be a valid and reliable tool for assessing the psychometric properties of burnout among dental students, and its use may aid in identifying burnout in the early stages.

Keywords: Arabic; Maslach Burnout Inventory; dental students; health-care evaluation; student burnout; validation.