Analysis on occupational burnout of psychiatrists in psychiatry hospitals and doctors in general hospitals

YANG Cheng-jia; ZHANG Sheng-jun; ZHONG Tian-ping; XU Ming-zhi

Abstract：Objective To investigate the characteristics of occupational burnout of psychiatrists in psychiatry hos-pitals and doctors in general hospitals, and to explore the association between work stress and somatization, as well as health-related behaviors.Methods A cross-sectional study was implemented.121 psychiatrists and 121 doctors filled out the Maslach Burnout lnventory-General Survey (MBI-GS) and Patient Health Questionnaire(PHQ-15) to explore the level of job burnout and somatic complains.Results There were 89.3%of psychiatrists and 99.2%of doctors suffer-ing from burnout.Doctors in general hospitals yielded higher scores of burnout, exhaustion and reduced personal accom-plishment ( P<0.001) .Psychiatrists more often engaged in physical exercise, smoke less, and kept a better dietary rou-tine than doctors in general hospitals (P<0.05 or P<0.001).The PHQ-15 total scores, stomach pain, back pain, pain in arms/legs/joints, chest pain, palpitation, shortness of breath, sexual problems, abnormal bowel movement, diges-tive discomfort, tiredness and sleep difficulties were notably higher in doctors in general hospital(P<0.05 or P<0.001). Engagement in physical exercise was negatively correlated with exhaustion, while overall PHQ score was positively correla-ted with exhaustion.Results from multiple linear regression showed that MBI-GS score (β=0.375, 95%CI:2.85 -3.09), exhaustion(β=0.273,95%CI:3.11-3.47) and gender (β=0.218,95%CI:1.38-1.51) were potential risk factors of somatic complains(R2 =0.102).Conclusion There are higher burnout level and more somatic complains in doctors in general hospitals.Exhaustion is a predictive factor of somatic symptoms, and a healthy lifestyle may have some effects on reducing burnout.