Burnout syndrome increase during COVID-19 pandemic in attending Internal Medicine physicians.

INTRODUCTION: Burnout is a psychosocial syndrome caused by stressful situations in the workplace. It affects 30%-60% of medical professionals. The aim of this study is to carry out a comparative analysis of its frequency before and after the COVID-19 outbreak in Spanish internal medicine attending physicians. METHODS: Surveys that included the Maslach Burnout Inventory were sent via email and associated social networks to physicians who were members of the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine in 2019 and 2020. RESULTS: A non-significant increase in burnout was observed (38.0% vs. 34.4%). However, an increase in low personal fulfilment was observed (66.4% vs. 33.6%; p = 0.002), a dimension associated with the prevention of psychiatric morbidity, in addition to two others: emotional fatigue and depersonalization, which can negatively affect patient care. CONCLUSIONS: It is essential to address this syndrome individually and institutionally.

[Burnout syndrome increase during COVID-19 pandemic in attending Internal Medicine physicians]. / Aumento del síndrome de burnout en los adjuntos de Medicina Interna durante la pandemia de COVID-19.

Introduction: Burnout is a psychosocial syndrome caused by stressful situations in the workplace. It affects 30% to 60% of medical professionals. The aim of this study is to carry out a comparative analysis of its frequency before and after the COVID-19 outbreak in Spanish internal medicine attending physicians. Methods: Surveys that included the Maslach Burnout Inventory were sent via email and associated social networks to physicians who were members of the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine in 2019 and 2020. Results: A non-significant increase in burnout was observed (38.0% vs. 34.4%). However, an increase in low personal fulfilment was observed (66.4% vs. 33.6%; p = 0.002), a dimension associated with the prevention of psychiatric morbidity, in addition to two others: emotional fatigue and depersonalization, which can negatively affect patient care. Conclusions: It is essential to address this syndrome individually and institutionally.

Burnout syndrome in internal medicine specialists and factors associated with its onset. / Síndrome de burnout en especialistas de medicina interna y factores asociados a su desarrollo.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Burnout is a psychosocial syndrome caused by stressful working conditions and affects 30-60% of medical personnel. The aim of this study was to assess the burnout rate of Spanish internists and the factors related to its onset. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a survey of work conditions followed by the Maslach Burnout Inventory, which was disseminated through the email registry and social networks of the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine. We performed a descriptive study and a univariate and multivariate analysis assessing the variables associated with burnout syndrome. RESULTS: A total of 934 internists (58.8% women and a median age of 40.0 years) answered the survey. Some 55.0% of the internists indicated high emotional fatigue, 61.7% indicated a high sense of depersonalisation, and 58.6% indicated low personal fulfilment. Some 33.4% of the interns experienced burnout. Burnout syndrome was independently related to age (OR 0.96; 95% CI 0.94-0.98), poor work environment (OR 1.94; 95% CI 1.31-2.82), insufficient wages (OR 1.79; 95% CI 1.20-2.67), receiving threats (OR 1.703; 95% CI 1.204-2.410) and the feeling of a lack of professional progress (OR 2.83; 95% CI 1.92-4.17). CONCLUSIONS: Burnout syndrome affects 33.4% of internists in Spain, and its onset is independently related with age, poor work environment, a lack of professional progress, insufficient financial remuneration and experiencing threats by patients or colleagues.

Getting to know internal medicine mentors: new training requirements. / Conociendo a los tutores de Medicina Interna: nuevas necesidades para la formación.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Mentors are responsible for planning the residents' learning. The aim of this study was to determine the situation of internal medicine mentors in Spain and detect areas of improvement that can facilitate their work. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Online surveys were sent to internal medicine mentors from May to July 2017, the results of which were subsequently analysed. RESULTS: A total of 110 mentors from 13 autonomous communities and from hospitals of all levels with courses in internal medicine responded to the survey. Of these mentors, 63 were men (57.3%), and the mean age was 48 years. The mean experience as mentors was 8.5 years. Some 88.2% of the cases had a ratio of 5 residents to 1 mentor; 46% of the mentors believed this ratio should be decreased to optimize their work. A third of the mentors were chosen by the heads of the department, and 30% had not previously taken courses on training. The mentor-resident interview was used by most mentors (96.4%) as a communication tool. A quarter of the rotations were not planned by the mentors, and only half had contact with the centres where the residents performed the external rotations. Sixty-one percent of the mentors were of the opinion that resident assessments were not conducted properly, with very little use of the new assessment tools. CONCLUSIONS: Reducing the mentor-resident ratio and adding training in assessment techniques and learning development could improve the quality of the mentoring.

Fifth-year internal medicine residents in Spain: A survey on education, assessment of competencies and job perspectives. / Residentes de medicina interna de quinto año en España: encuesta sobre educación, evaluación de competencias y perspectivas de empleo.

BACKGROUND: Specialist training is based on the gradual acquisition of expertise, skills and responsibilities. The aim of this study is to determine the opinion of residents regarding their training. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study based on an online survey of 5th-year residents during February and March 2017. RESULTS: A total of 194 residents (62.8% of the total) responded to the survey, 62.9% of whom were women and 50% of whom were younger than 30years, representing hospitals from all levels and from the 17 autonomous communities. More than 80% of the residents choose the specialty once again and believed that the duration of the residence was appropriate; however, 76.3% would eliminate some of their rotations. Most of the residents did not know the objectives of each rotation, and 37.1% felt they were not adequately supervised. Some 82.5% would change the evaluation system, and 68.0% would favour performing an excellence test. Most of the residents had published at least one article or performed one presentation at a congress; however, only 27.8% had completed a doctoral thesis. Although 74.7% of the internists believed they would find employment, only 28.4% had an offer 1month after completing their residence. CONCLUSIONS: The residents are satisfied with their training, although there is still a deficit in supervision and dissatisfaction with the method of assessing their knowledge and the precarious job market during the first year for specialists.