H. Van de Wiel

The role of social support in burnout among Dutch medical residents

Abstract Burnout levels among medical residents are considered high. A lack of social support has shown to have a direct effect on emotional exhaustion, and depersonalization, two of the three burnout indicators. In this study, we examined the satisfaction of medical residents with social support (emotional, appreciative and informative) received from supervisors, fellow medical residents, nurses and patients. In addition, the correlation between social support and burnout was studied. Medical residents were significantly more dissatisfied with the emotional, appreciative and informative support received from their supervisors compared with fellow residents and nurses (respectively, 13.4 ± 4.0 vs. 9.9 ± 2.8 and 10.0 ± 2.4; 10.0 ± 2.9 vs. 7.4 ± 2.0 and 7.3 ± 1.8; and 7.2 ± 2.3 vs. 5.4 ± 1.6 and 5.3 ± 1.5; p < .001). Significant independent effects were found on emotional exhaustion: from dissatisfaction with emotional support [Beta = .44, p < .001, total R 2 = .25] and dissatisfaction with appreciative support from supervisors [Beta = .30, p < .01, total R 2 = .11]. Moreover, dissatisfaction with emotional support from supervisors had an independent significant effect on depersonalization [Beta = .33, p = .001, total R 2 = .14]. The best predictor of burnout appeared to be dissatisfaction with emotional support received from supervisors. Our results suggest that intervention programs should not only focus on the medical residents, but also on the supervisors to improve their supportive skills.

Burnout among Dutch medical residents

We examined levels of burnout and relationships between burnout, gender, age, years in training, and medical specialty in 158 medical residents working at the University Medical Center Groningen, the Netherlands. Thirteen percent of the residents met the criteria for burnout, with the highest percentage of burnout cases among medical residents in Psychiatry. Significantly more male residents than female residents suffered from severe burnout. Medical residents reported significantly lower mean scores on personal accomplishment than medical specialists and other health care workers; they also reported lower mean scores on emotional exhaustion than medical specialists. Male residents had significantly higher depersonalization scores than female residents. Positive significant relationships were found between personal accomplishment and age and years in training. Obstetrics & Gynecology residents reported significantly more personal accomplishment than residents in Psychiatry, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and Anesthesiology. Residents in Psychiatry had significantly lower scores on personal accomplishment than residents in Internal Medicine. Our findings show that burnout is present in a small but significant number of medical residents.

Medische psychologie in context

Een patiente is 24 jaar oud en weegt 110 kilo. Haar lengte is gemiddeld en dat geldt ook voor haar IQ. Ze heeft havo gedaan en is secretaresse bij een uitzendbureau. Ze vindt zichzelf veel te dik. Ze schaamt zich voor haar lichaam en vermijdt daardoor het aangaan en onderhouden van sociale contacten. Voor haar overgewicht zoekt ze nu hulp bij een arts.