Exploring Burnout among Interns and House Staff in a Teaching Hospital of Eastern India

Background: Burnout among junior doctors is an important public health problem, affecting both physician well-being and patient care quality.Transitioning from academic settings as students to clinical practice exposes interns and house staff to heavy workloads, emotional stress, and limited autonomy, contributing to burnout across emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and reduced personal accomplishment (PA) domains.Objectives: The objectives were to determine the proportion and severity of burnout among junior doctors at North Bengal Medical College and Hospital using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), identify contributing factors to burnout, and assess coping strategies and available support systems.Materials and methods: A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted among 144 interns and house staff, selected through convenience sampling.Data were collected via structured interviews using a pretested questionnaire based on the MBI, which evaluates three dimensions: EE, DP, and PA.The tool also explored work-related stressors and coping strategies.The questionnaire was administered electronically through Google Forms.Ethical approval was obtained, and informed consent was integrated into the form.Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 20, with Chi-square tests; p < 0.05 was considered significant.Results: Out of 144 respondents, 30.6% experienced burnout, with no significant association found between burnout and gender, age, or designation.Burnout prevalence was slightly higher among interns (33%) and those aged 25-29 years (35.7%).High DP was reported by 64 participants, and 75 reported significantly reduced PA.Common contributing factors included lack of time (19.4%),inadequate rest (18.8%), and unrealistic expectations (18.8%).While 68.1% felt comfortable seeking help, only 48.6% had access to support services, and 34% considered quitting due to stress.Conclusion: Burnout is a significant issue among junior doctors at the current setting, driven by systemic and workplace-related stressors.Although many doctors are willing to seek help, gaps in mental health support and work-life balance persist.Strengthening mentoring programs, promoting better work-life balance, and offering regular mental health screenings could make a crucial difference in supporting early-career doctors.