Burnout em diferentes fases da formação médica: comparação entre discentes e médicos

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Burnout Syndrome, also known as professional exhaustion, refers to a psychosocial phenomenon triggered by chronic stressors perceived in different contexts, family, individual, professional, and social. It comprises three interrelated yet independent components: depersonalization, emotional exhaustion, and professional accomplishment. This, occupations involving close and emotionally demanding contact with people are considered high-risk, such as medical students and physicians themselves. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of Burnout Syndrome among medical students and practicing physicians, as well as to compare these groups to identify variations associated with the level of education and professional practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study with a quantitative approach, conducted at the Federal University of Sergipe, Lagarto Campus, using a self-administered sociodemographic questionnaire and a validated public-domain Burnout Syndrome Inventory - ISB. The population consisted of medical students enrolled at UFS Lagarto and medical faculty members from the same course. Data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation for numerical variables and the Chi-square or Student’s t-test for nominal variables. RESULTS: Between February 3 and July 7, 2025, 113 medical students and 20 faculty physicians from UFS – Lagarto were interviewed. Among students, males predominated (54.9%; n=62), most aged 23–27 years, single, and with incomplete higher education. Among professors, females predominated (65%; n=13), with an average age between 39 and 46 years and high academic qualification, half holding a doctoral degree. In both groups, positive organizational conditions showed higher mean scores than negative ones, indicating an overall favorable perception of the institutional environment. Regarding the burnout domains, no statistically significant differences were found between students and faculty (p>0.05), although students showed a tendency toward greater depersonalization. In summary, the results indicate moderate levels of professional accomplishment and highlight the importance of long-term mental health promotion strategies within academic and healthcare settings. CONCLUSION: The study revealed that both medical students and faculty demonstrated similar levels of Burnout, with greater emphasis on professional accomplishment. Despite the presence of stressors, satisfaction in medical practice was observed. The findings reinforce the importance of institutional strategies aimed at promoting mental health and preventing professional exhaustion.