Evaluating the Effect of an Educational Program on Level of Professional Burnout among Family Physicians in the Faculty of Medicine - Suez Canal University

Background: The burnout syndrome is characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and low personal accomplishment. It is associated with impaired job performance. Aim: Evaluate the effect of an educational program on level of professional burnout among family physicians working in family practice centers affiliated to the Faculty of Medicine-Suez Canal University in terms of change in the scores of the three dimensions of burnout. Participants and method: A quasi-experimental study design with pre-post assessment was used to evaluate the effect of an educational program on level of professional burnout among family physicians working in family practice centers affiliated to the Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University. A total of 31 physicians were assessed. The program was implemented from March to April 2012. The evaluation of burnout was via the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). Results: Among family physicians more than (80%) were females; more than 60% were married (67.7%) and had one or two children (64.5%); and over a third (38.7%) consulted 10 to 20 patients/day. The mean number of working hours/week for the government was 33.6 ± 12.9 hour. Prevalence of burnout after six months of the intervention program decreased from (41.9%) to (32.3%) with absence of significant change in the mean scores of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization before and after intervention. There was a decrease in the percent of physicians scoring high in emotional exhaustion and depersonalization domain from 48.4%, 67.7% respectively to 38.7%, 61.3%. More than 80% of the studied family physicians were satisfied with the intervention program. Conclusion: There was a considerable prevalence of burnout among family physicians. Person directed approach has limited effect in reduction of professional burnout.