Relation of burnout to on-call duties among Saudi board residents in Aseer region: A cross-sectional study

Burnout is a common psychological condition among medical residents, characterized by emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and reduced personal accomplishment (PA). This study aimed to evaluate the impact of on-call hours on burnout subscales in residents. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Aseer region, Saudi Arabia, involving 260 residents from various hospitals and residency programs. The Maslach Burnout Inventory was utilized to assess burnout levels. Descriptive statistics summarized the study characteristics and responses. Cronbach alpha was calculated for each subscale for reliability. Mean and standard deviations (mean ± standard deviation) were reported for the subscale scores, while multiple linear regression was used to analyze the relationship between on-call hours and burnout subscales. Mediation analysis, using the Sobel test and bootstrapping, examined the indirect effect of on-call hours on burnout subscales through satisfaction. Among the 260 participants, 52.7% were female, 63.1% aged 27 to 29, and 63.1% were single. The most represented specialties were pediatrics (16.9%) and psychiatry (13.5%), with 29.6% in their first year of residency. Most respondents (90%) reported on-call durations of 17 to 24 hours, but only 36.5% received 3 to 4 hours of post-call rest. High EE, DP, and PA were reported by 72%, 68%, and 37% of residents, respectively. Regression analysis showed that 17 to 24 hours of on-call duty significantly increased EE (6.95; 95% CI: 2.55-11.34, P = .002) and DP (6.95; 95% CI: 2.55-11.34, P = .002). Post-call rest of 1 to 2 hours reduced EE (-0.8; 95% CI: -15.14 to -0.86, P = .028) and increased PA (12.64; 95% CI: 5.36-19.93, P = .001). Longer post-call rest (3-6 hours) further improved PA. Mediation analysis revealed that satisfaction partially mediated the effect of on-call hours on PA, reducing burnout (2.32; 95% CI: 0.08-4.55, P = .042). The study highlights the high prevalence of burnout among residents in the Aseer region and underscores the need for reforms. Recommendations include limiting on-call shifts to 16 hours and implementing mandatory post-call rest to enhance residents' well-being and reduce burnout.