A simplified measure of burnout symptoms among paramedics - an exploratory analysis of a Hungarian sample

László Ivánkovits; Csaba Kazinczi; Krisztián Kocsis; Mona Stankovic; Zsuzsanna Koday; Zoltán Pető; Annamária Töreki

doi:10.1186/s40359-024-01518-x

A simplified measure of burnout symptoms among paramedics - an exploratory analysis of a Hungarian sample

BMC Psychol. 2024 Jan 18;12(1):37. doi: 10.1186/s40359-024-01518-x.

Authors

László Ivánkovits¹, Csaba Kazinczi^{2

3}, Krisztián Kocsis⁴, Mona Stankovic¹, Zsuzsanna Koday⁵, Zoltán Pető¹, Annamária Töreki¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Szeged, 6, Semmelweis Street, Szeged, 6725, Hungary.
² Department of Neurology, University of Szeged, 6, Semmelweis Street, Szeged, 6725, Hungary.
³ Department of Clinical Psychology, Semmelweis University, 25, Üllői Street, Budapest, 1091, Hungary.
⁴ Department of Radiology, University of Szeged, 6, Semmelweis street, Szeged, 6725, Hungary. krisztian.kocsis87@gmail.com.
⁵ Eötvös Lóránd Univesity, Egyetem tér 1-3, Budapest, 1053, Hungary.

Abstract

Background: Burnout is still one of the leading mental health problems. According to research results over the past decades, healthcare workers, including paramedics, are considered a high-risk group. In concordance with these results, the available resources need to prioritize monitoring paramedics' mental health.

Methods: In our study, we investigated whether the available test batteries measuring burnout could be reduced while maintaining their effectiveness. We reduced the 21-item Burnout Measurement and the 8-item version of the Psychosomatic Symptom Scale using the data of 727 Hungarian paramedics. We selected the top four items of the questionnaires that were significantly correlated with the original Burnout Measure Index and the Psychosomatic Scale Index. The classification efficiency of the shortened list of items was based on the initial risk categories of the Burnout Measure and its sensitivity was analyzed using Binary Logistic regression and ROC curves. We then used Two-Step Cluster Analysis to test the ability of the shortened Burnout Measure Index to develop new risk categories. The reliability indicators were also explored.

Results: The results show that the Burnout Measurement can be reduced to 4 items with a classification efficiency of 93.5% in determining the level of burnout. The 5-item reduction of the Psychosomatic Symptom Scale can classify subjects to the appropriate intervention level for burnout with an efficiency of 81.6%. The ROC analysis suggests that the shortened questionnaires have an excellent separative ability to discriminate between the initial risk groups. Three new risk categories were also identified as a result of the cluster analysis.

Conclusion: The shortened scales may be proven effective in resource management, which could significantly quicken the assessment of burnout in the future. The abbreviated scale is also suitable for classifying subjects into risk categories. However, further research is needed to see whether the shortened scales can be used as a diagnostic tool.

Keywords: Burnout; Explanatory analysis; Paramedics; Well-being.

MeSH terms

Burnout, Professional* / diagnosis
Burnout, Professional* / psychology
Health Personnel
Humans
Hungary
Paramedics*
Reproducibility of Results
Surveys and Questionnaires