RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: To identify factors associated with the Burnout Syndrome in light of the prevalence of that syndrome in physicians working in the Public Hospital Authority (PHA), Nassau, Bahamas. DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was done utilizing a self-administered survey comprising of demographics, general health, work environment, and Maslach Burnout Inventory items to assess burnout among salaried Physicians working in 9 departments of PHA. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences was used for data analysis. RESULTS: 153 physicians participated. Their mean age was 35.84 (ñ 7.09) years; median 34.00 (IQR: 31.00, 40.00) years . 64.7% (99) were females. No association was found between these, other socio-demographic variables measured and burnout status. Physicians in the department of Internal Medicine represented 22.2% (34), Family Medicine 20.3% (31), Emergency Medicine 19.6% (30), Pediatrics 13.7 (21), and physicians in other departments 22.3% (34) of the sample, 55.7% of physicians employed under the PHA collectively exhibited a moderate level of burnout, 9.9% of these physicians having severe burnout Separately, poor balance of family, 15 work environment potential stressors and 4 potential stress relievers were found to be each weakly or very weakly related to burnout status. Postgraduate programme year, irregular sleep pattern and lack of appreciation were moderately strong positively related. Logistic regression analysis showed the key predictors of burnout status to be lack of appreciation (OR=1.69, p=.002) and number of years worked post-internship (OR=.94, p=.039). CONCLUSION: Physicians sensing of appreciation and sleep hygiene were clear predictors of burnout.