Burn-out among practitioners managing abdominal surgical emergencies in Senegal

Abstract

Surgery represents a distinct medical specialization that necessitates direct interaction with patients and the ability to manage complications. Burn-out is defined as a syndrome arising from persistent workplace stress that has not been effectively addressed. The objective of this work was to assess the prevalence and factors associated with burn-out among practitioners managing abdominal surgical emergencies in Senegal. A descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study was conducted; the study included healthcare professionals (general practitioners, general surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses) involved in the management of surgical emergencies across all hospitals in Senegal. A standardized assessment of perceived stress was conducted using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) in three domains: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment. A multiple linear regression model was used to estimate the determinants of burn-out on the three subscales. A total of 186 observations were included in the study, for a response rate of 90.7%. The majority of participants were from the capital city of Dakar (44. 6%). There were 46 women (24. 7%) and 140 men (75. 3%). The mean age was 34 years 9 ±6.7 years, with a range of 24 to 59 years. The majority of participants were married (71%), followed by single individuals (26. 3%), divorced (2. 2%), and widowed (0. 5%). The majority of participants were physicians (80. 6%), followed by nurses (19. 4%). The most common medical specializations were general surgery (58.7%), anesthesia and resuscitation (22. 7%), and general medicine (18. 7%). Additionally, 46% of participants were in training (residency program). The predominant motivations included passion for the profession (75.3%), patient satisfaction (69. 9%), stimulating challenges (21%), and salary considerations (11. 8%). The overall prevalence of high burn-out (at least in one dimension) was 46.2%. A multiple linear regression model showed that the risk factors contributing to high burn-out were divorce status, being in training, and being motivated by stimulating challenges, salary considerations or passion for the profession. The protective factors were a positive perception of one's salary, a favorable physical work environment, and high-quality training. This study revealed an alarming prevalence of burn-out among surgical teams dealing with abdominal emergencies in Senegal. These findings call for immediate action to ensure the well-being of surgical teams and, by extension, the quality of healthcare delivery.