Burnout Levels and Contributing Factors Among Radiation Oncology Resident Physicians

Objective: Burnout is a psychological syndrome that emerges as a long-term response to chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. In fields with high emotional and physical stress, such as oncology, the prevalence of burnout is significantly high. Burnout can lead to decreased productivity among healthcare professionals, poor mental and physical health, and negative impacts on personal relationships. This study aims to assess the burnout levels of radiation oncology resident physicians in Türkiye and examine the sociodemographic factors contributing to this condition. Methods: A total of 52 radiation oncology resident physicians in Türkiye participated in this study. A “Demographic Information Form” consisting of seven questions was used to determine the demographic characteristics of the participants, and the “the Maslach Burnout Inventory” was applied to assess professional burnout levels. This scientifically validated scale evaluates burnout in three subdimensions: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment. Results: A significant negative correlation was found between the emotional exhaustion and personal accomplishment dimensions, while a significant positive correlation was observed between the emotional exhaustion and depersonalization dimensions (p<0.01). No significant correlation was detected between the Personal Accomplishment and Depersonalization subdimensions. Conclusion: Since no cut-off values have been defined for the Maslach Burnout Inventory, mean scores were interpreted within the context of the scale ranges. Accordingly, radiation oncology residents did not generally exhibit high levels of burnout, although emotional exhaustion appeared more pronounced compared to the other subscales.