Assessing burnout among forensic medicine specialists at a tertiary care hospital: A pilot study

Healthcare professionals often face immense pressure and work-related stress, particularly in life-saving situations and when working with their clients. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a noticeable rise in burnout, exacerbated by increasing instances of violence against doctors. Forensic medicine, a demanding field that works closely with law enforcement, prosecution, and the judiciary, has received less attention in burnout studies. The present study aims to assess the prevalence of burnout among qualified forensic medicine practitioners working at a tertiary care facility in South India. Additionally, it explores the common coping mechanisms these doctors use to manage stress. An adapted version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and a semi-structured questionnaire were administered via Google Forms to assess burnout prevalence and coping mechanisms. Informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to data collection. The study included ten forensic medicine practitioners registered with the Andhra Pradesh Medical Council, comprising eight males and two females, with an average age of 46.7 years and an average work experience of 9.3 years. The mean scores for the MBI domains in our study were as follows: Emotional Exhaustion (6.6 ± 2.9), Depersonalization (7.5 ± 4.45), and Personal Accomplishment (33.8 ± 8.6), indicating low, moderate, and moderate levels of burnout, respectively. However, when considered overall, there is no burnout among the participants. The study finds that forensic medicine specialists exhibit low burnout scores, likely due to their engagement in extracurricular activities and strong support networks, including discussions with colleagues and family. These findings support the view that forensic doctors are mentally tough and emotionally resilient.