Comparing burnout syndrome among students in two medical universities (Warsaw, Košice)

Abstract

Introduction. Burnout syndrome is a state of mental and physical exhaustion related to intensive activity like studying medicine. Distress during medical school can lead to burnout, which in turn can result in negative results of education and serious consequences as a working physician. Literature reveals that burnout is prevalent in one quarter or up to one half of all medical students. This article presents comparison of students of two medical faculties, regarding the level of burnout.

Material and methods. Two groups of medical students from two different medical universities (Warsaw, Košice) were tested with Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). Both groups were part of 6-year English-language educational courses and were tested with MBI in relation to their first 3 years educational experiences. Both universities perform nearly the same EU-compatible programs.

Results. Students’ burnout increased during 3 years time of education. It is proportional to the stress duration/course duration, but it is not related to the university-specific conditions. The highest risk of burnout concerns population of 25% of medical students.

Conclusions. Burnout is a phenomenon strictly related to the duration and demands of a student-training course. Systemic intervention should be introduced to reduce the risk of burnout syndrome consequences among medical students.