Epidemiology of burnout syndrome in four occupational sectors in Cameroon-impact of the practice of physical activities and sport.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of Burnout syndrome (BOS), risk factors and the effect of physical activity in six professions in Cameroon. METHODS: 2012 participants completed questionnaires related to socio-demographic conditions and work perception. Appropriate Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) psychometers were used for specific professions. Level of physical activity and sports practice was determined using the Ricci and Gagnon scale. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of burnout was 67.9%; with 5.3% high; 34.3% moderate; and 60.4% low degree. 42.2% of victims of BOS were in high loss of personal achievement, 39.9% in high depersonalization of and 38.2% in high emotional exhaustion. Higher prevalence of BOS was found in Army (85.3%) and educational sectors (78.5% in secondary school teachers (SET) and 68% in university teaching staff (UTS)). BOS was significantly associated (p < 0.05) with distance from home to workplace, number of children per participant, number of hospitals attended, number of guards per month, labour hours per day, conflicts with the hierarchy, conflicts with colleagues, poor working conditions, unsatisfactory salary, part time teaching in private university institutions, job seniority, sedentariness. Apart from UTS, no association was observed between the level of physical activity and occurrence of BOS. CONCLUSION: Burnout is a reality in occupational environments in Cameroon.

Burnout syndrome and associated factors among university teaching staff in Cameroon: Effect of the practice of sport and physical activities and leisures.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the epidemiology of burnout syndrome among university teaching staff in Cameroon; and to establish if the practice of physical activities and leisures could have preventive effect. METHODS: A cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire on socio-demographic characteristics, socio-professional conditions, Maslach Burnout Inventory-Educator Survey (MBI-ES) to evaluate burnout syndrome, and Ricci-Gagnon metrics to assess level of physical activities practice among grades of teaching staff, in the various faculties of the University of Douala, Cameroon. RESULTS: Three hundreds and three teaching staff members aged 43±7 years were included (69% males). The prevalence of burnout syndrome was 68%, distributed within the three dimensions as follows: emotional exhaustion (15.2%), depersonalization (32.1%) and loss of personal accomplishment (22.1%), with 57% low level, 38% moderate and 6% severe. Burnout affected respectively 55.4% lecturers, 38.3% senior lecturers and 6.3% professors. Burnout was significantly associated with poor working conditions (P=0.0001), unsatisfactory salary (P=0.0001), part time teaching in private university institutions (P=0.027), sensation of strenuous job (P=0.002), conflict with colleagues (P=0.028), sedentariness (P=0.007). Sport and physical activities showed significant protective effect against burnout (P=0.004), the same with leisures (P=0.016). CONCLUSION: The prevalence burnout syndrome is high among university teaching staff in Cameroon. The practice of sport and physical activities and leisures has a protective effect against burnout syndrome.