BURNOUT AMONG PHC STAFF IN RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA

Background: Burnout is a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. Burnout has been described in health-care workers and has been reported to be common in primary health care physicians. This study aimed is to assess the prevalence rate of burnout, and its associated factors, amongst primary care doctors in cluster one area, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: This study is a cross-sectional in design. The subjects consist of general physicians, residents, registrars, senior registrars, consultants, nurses and receptionist. This study is conducted at specialized consulting clinics in Riyadh. The questionnaire's primary outcome measures are based on the Maslach scale. The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) is an industry-standard that has been administered across large samples of varied professions in many countries. It has three dimensions: emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and personal accomplishment (PA). Results:A high level of burnout was found among PHC staff in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The factors affecting Emotional exhaustion (EE) of the PHC staff are the position, gender, working hours per week, the degree of job satisfaction, changing the job, planning to leave the job, the salary, depersonalization and personal accomplishment. Whereas the factors affecting Depersonalization (DP) among PHC staff are: Work night shifts, the degree of job satisfaction, changing the job, planning to leave the job, Personal Accomplishment and Emotional Exhaustion. Similarly, changing the job, EE, and DP are the significant factors affecting the personal accomplishment (PA) of PHC staff. Conclusion: Burnout is an important issue related to primary care staff in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Proper assessment and determination of the prevalence rate of burnout, and its associated factors is critical.