Burnout among Hungarian physicians. Who are the most jeopardized?

Introduction: Burnout is one of the most challenging questions of the healthcare systems in the 21st century. Aim: The aim of this study was to analyze the Hungarian physicians' burnout and its associations with workload factors (work hours, shift work, multiple workplaces). Method: Data of this representative, cross-sectional, online epidemiological study was obtained from online questionnaires completed by 4784 physicians. Results: Medium or high level personal accomplishment was present in 75.9% and emotional exhaustion in 58% among physicians, while medium or high level of depersonalization subscale was 53%. All of the 3 dimensions showed association with young ages (< 35 years), work in in-patient care, shift hours and multiple workplaces. The physician partner increased the risk of depersonalization, however, children were protective factors. The work-home interface was associated with higher burnout scores. Conclusions: Physicians' burnout is an important indicator of the functioning and effectiveness of the healthcare system. The results suggest the importance of prevention and intervention.