Burnout Syndrome Among Pediatric Residents at a Children’s Hospital in Madrid

Introduction Burnout Syndrome (BOS) is a state of exhaustion due to chronic workplace stress, characterized by emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and a diminished sense of personal accomplishment (PA). BOS is significant among healthcare professionals worldwide, and a critical issue in medical residency, raising concerns about mental health, patient care and safety. Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and severity of BOS among pediatric medical residents at a children’s hospital in Madrid, Spain. The association between demographic and occupational factors, such as gender, residency year, and night shifts per month, and the presence of BOS was also analyzed. Methods An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted in September 2024, using a survey distributed to pediatric residents. The survey included demographic and occupational data and the Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS), which assesses burnout through EE, DP and PA. Perception of institutional burnout prevention and support programs was also evaluated. Results The response rate was 81.8% (45/55), the majority of respondents were female (77.8%), aged between 24-32 years (mean 26.8), from all levels of training. Burnout scores were abnormal in 55.6%, and 11.1% met criteria for high levels of burnout. Emotional exhaustion was the most affected dimension, over half (57.8%) scoring in the high-degree for EE, followed by 40% for high DP and 28.9% for low PA. No significant associations were found between gender, residency year, or night shifts and burnout levels. However, 66.7% of the respondents perceived insufficient institutional burnout prevention programs or support. Conclusions The study confirmed a high prevalence of BOS among pediatric residents. These results emphasize the urgent need for targeted interventions to prevent and address burnout and improve health-care professionals well-being. Further research is needed to explore factors contributing to burnout and effective strategies for mitigating burnout among medical residents. Disclosure of Interest None Declared