The Presence of Stress, Burnout Syndrome and the Most Important Causes of Working Stress Among Physicians in Primary Health Care - an Observational Study from Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the level and causes of stress and the risk of onset of burnout syndrome among physicians employed at the Primary Health Care Centre, Banja Luka.

Subjects and methods: Between March 1, 2018, and May 31, 2018 all physicians from the Primary Health Care Centre, Banja Luka were offered the following questionnaires to fill in: a socio-demographic questionnaire, a questionnaire for self-assessment of the level of stress and the Maslach Burnout Inventory for assessment of the risk of burnout syndrome.

Results: Out of 211 physicians, 85.8% were female. A high level of stress was found in 77.7% of the subjects. Older doctors had higher levels of emotional exhaustion compared to younger doctors with a shorter length of service (r=0.236, P=0.01). Emotional exhaustion was significantly correlated with a high level of depersonalization, a low level of personal accomplishment and a high level of stress (r=0.380, r=-0.174 and r=0.574, P=0.01, P=0.04 and P<0.01, respectively). Depersonalization correlated with a low level of personal accomplishment and stress (r=-0.347 and r=0.283, P<0.01 and P=0.01, respectively), while the level of personal accomplishment was in a negative correlation with stress (r=-0.281, P=0.01). A high stress level was associated with a high degree of emotional exhaustion (OR 56.543; 95% CI 11.35-213.09; P<0.001) as well as lack of personal accomplishment (OR 0.155; 95% CI 0.04-0.50; P=0.003).

Conclusion: A high level of stress was associated with older age, female gender, as well as with a high degree of emotional exhaustion and a lack of personal accomplishment. Preventive measures are warranted.

Keywords: Burnout Syndrom; Primary Care Doctors; Stress; the Main Causes of Stress.