ABSTRACT
Introduction: Burnout in health care professionals has been a source of great concern over the
years. As a result of improperly managed stressed and a trying and highly demanding work
environment, health workers especially doctors are susceptible to developing burnout. Burnout is
a syndrome of Emotional Exhaustion, Depersonalization, and Lack of Personal Accomplishment.
Residency training, particularly in tertiary health institutions can predispose to a high degree of
burnout leading to clinical errors and poor patient outcome. It has also been associated with
decreased job performance and low career satisfaction. There are many studies on burnout
worldwide, but few has been carried out specifically to determine its prevalence among resident
doctors in tertiary health institutions, and Benin city in particular.
Objectives: To assess burnout syndrome among resident doctors in tertiary health institutions in
Benin City, Edo State.
Methodology: This was an analytical cross sectional study. The study population comprised
resident doctors in tertiary health institutions in Benin City, Edo State. The tool for data
collection were pretested structured questionnaires. Data was entered and analyzed with IBM
SPSS version 26.0 software. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05.
Results: A total of 381 resident doctors participated in the study. The mean age (SD) of
respondents was 34.94±4.2 years with a higher proportion being males 265 (69.6%). Majority
370 (97.1%) of the respondents were training in UBTH. More than half 225 (59.1%) of the
respondents were junior residents. A larger proportion 116 (30.4%) of respondents had spent 4-6
years in residency while 135 (35.4%) had weekly call hours of 24-48 hours. More than half 209
(55.4%) of the resident doctors had good knowledge of burnout. Nine-tenths 344 (90.3%) of the
XVIresident doctors had burnout. Marital status (P<0.040) was found to be a significantly associated
factor for burnout, with unmarried residents recording higher values; Institution (P=0.019) was
found to be a significant associated factor for burnout, with more residents in UBTH
experiencing burnout. Knowledge of burnout (P<0.001) was found to be a significant associated
factor for burnout, with more residents who had good knowledge being burnt-out. Of those
experiencing burnout, a higher proportion 220 (57.7%) had high level of emotional exhaustion.
Also, a higher proportion 188 (49.3%) had high level of lack of level of personal
accomplishments; while more than half 210 (55.1%) had low levels of depersonalization. Over
nine-tenths of the respondents reported clinical work overload 366 (96.1%), being underpaid 358
(94.0%), insufficient sleep 355 (93.2%), lack of incentives and promotions 366 (96.1%), and
time pressures to meet deadlines 349 (91.6%) as their major reasons for burnout. Over three-
quarters of respondents felt lack of relaxation time 355 (82.3%), as well as not having enough
leisure time to attend to family and friends 294 (77.2%) as the major consequences they were
experiencing. As coping mechanism, 362 (95.0%) of the respondents had decided to look on the
bright side of life as a coping mechanism, with 344 (90.3%) of the resident doctors resorting to
speaking to people to ease stress.
Conclusion: More than half of the resident doctors in tertiary health institutions in Benin City
had an overall good knowledge of burnout. The prevalence of burnout among resident doctors in
tertiary health institutions in Benin City was high. This resulted in negative consequences on
their physical and mental health, and in the quality of patient care. Thus, there is a need for
relevant stakeholders to address modifiable risk factors of burnout among resident doctors.
