Year: 2003
Type: report
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: This study investigates the prevalence of burnout among Canadian physicians.The Boudreau Burnout Questionnaire (BBQ), distributed as part of the Canadian Medical Association Physician Resource Questionnaire (PRQ) 2003, was used to measure burnout levels, compared by gender, age, practice locale, and specialty.Using the Phase Model Approach (Golembiewski et al., 1986), 1870 physicians were categorized with respect to their HI or LO scores of emotional exhaustion, reduced personal achievement, and depersonalization.Overall, 45.7% of Canadian physicians were in advanced phases of burnout (Phases VI, VII, & VIII).A higher percentage of female physicians (47.6%) than male physicians (44.6%) reported levels of advanced burnout.Age negatively correlated with burnout measures, yet age groups 35 -44 and 45 -54 showed over 50% advanced burnout.Advanced burnout scores were almost identical across broad specialties.A slightly higher percentage of rural physicians (46.9%) than urban physicians (45.5%) reported levels of advanced burnout.These results indicate that burnout among Canadian physicians warrants attention.I would like to acknowledge the dedication of our Canadian physicians to the practice of medicine and their commitment to improving the lives of our citizens in the face of changes to the Canadian Health Care System.It has been challenging trying to document the burnout experience faced by Canadian physicians but rewarding to think that by acknowledging the chronic pains felt by those giving their lives to healing others, some recourse may be taken to lessen their loads.I would like to thank the members of my committee for the support, enthusiasm, and freedom to pursue an avenue close to my heart, and for allowing me to find the value in focused mental energy and perseverance-my supervisor, Dr. Bob Boudreau, for the opportunity of a life time for a Master's student, and for his wisdom and calmness; my second reader, Dr. Judith Kulig, for her inspiration and dedication to the field of health care; and my external examiner, Dr. Robert Wedel, for his interest, insight, and expedient response given his incredibly busy schedule.I would like to acknowledge the efforts of Shelley Martin at the CMA, for without her assistance this project would have been impossible.I would like to thank my children, Christie, Mitchell, and Kimberly for telling me that I am a genius in one breath and the opposite in the next.It has been my goal to encourage in them a love of learning, which is inherent in children, that will last all of their lives.I would like thank my Mom and Dad who are
Author: Sandra L. Cahoon
Language: English
Subfield: General Health Professions
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: Alberta Medical Association
OpenAlex ID: W196896463