Burnout syndrome, anxiety, and depression in dermatology residents: a cross-sectional study

Actas Dermosifiliogr. 2024 Feb 19:S0001-7310(24)00157-1. doi: 10.1016/j.ad.2024.02.016. Online ahead of print.
[Article in English, Spanish]

Abstract

Background and objective: Burnout syndrome is a mental health disorder due to chronic occupational stress. Both burnout and associated comorbidities are prevalent among health care professionals, being medical residents a vulnerable group. Despite this, the scientific medical literature currently available on this issue in dermatology residents is scarce. The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of the burnout syndrome, anxiety, and depression in dermatology residents, and the associated risk factors.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional trial designed to include dermatology residents from Spain from December 2022 through June 2023. A self-administered form was sent via online messaging applications, including validated scales to study professional quality of life, burnout syndrome, anxiety, and depression.

Results: A total of 48 dermatology residents were included in the study, 50% of whom (24/48) were women, with a mean age of 27 years (1.25). A total of 58.33% (28/48) of the residents had some degree of anxiety, 22.9% (11/48) some degree of depression, and 23.4% a moderate risk of burnout (11/48). Workload was the main risk factor associated with the 3 disorders studied, while managerial support or intrinsic motivation seem to play a protective role.

Conclusions: Burnout syndrome and its comorbidities are both prevalent in dermatology residents in Spain and closely related to each other.

Keywords: Anxiety; Burnout; Depression; Dermatology residents; Professional quality of life; ansiedad; calidad de vida profesional; depression; residentes de dermatología.