Assessing Burnout in Medical Students in Clerkship Years in United Arab Emirates

Assessing the Frequency of Burnout Syndrome Among Medical Students in United Arab Emirates University and Identifying Any Associated Factors

Burnout Syndrome is a medical condition caused by long-term job-related strain and is defined by presence of either one or more of the three states i.e. emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and lack of personal accomplishment. Burnout has been shown to cause decreased work output and mental well being of employees and increase errors at workplace. Burnout is observed in various lines of work and but has been found to be especially high among academic students undertaking professional studies as well as healthcare professionals. Medical students in their clerkship years undergo high stake exams, while adapting from classroom and simulation learning to participate in clinical care of patients in hospital care setting with no prior experience, which much them vulnerable to developing burnout during medical school. Burnout can effect medical students' well-being, which may continue into their internship and residency so greater emphasis in required on creating an awareness of burnout and identifying any factors associated to its development.

Burnout syndrome can develop after a prolonged response to chronic emotional and interpersonal workplace stressors, and is defined by 3 dimensions - emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and lack of personal accomplishment. Burnout syndrome can be prevalent in up to half the medical students and those studies have suggested poor mental health among them. Various external and internal factors may contribute to burnout in medical students and little is known about the impact and mechanism of these factors in developing burnout. Burnout can develop, persist or worsen in residency years and it has been found to frequent among Diabetes specialty residents in United Kingdom as well in Emirati medical residents. Burnout can affect overall wellbeing of medical students with health consequences as well as poor work engagement/ educational outcomes.

To the best of authors knowledge no data exists on burnout in undergraduate medical students in clinical years (clerkship) in United Arab Emirates

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Medical students (5th and 6th year) of college of medicine and health sciences in United Arab Emirates University
2. Currently attending the college, not on sick leave or long-term absence.
3. Agreed to participate after Informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

Self-reported presence of active mental health illness or current treatment.