Psychological problems and burnout among medical professionals of a tertiary care hospital of North India: A cross-sectional study

Background: There is a growing evidence of increased prevalence of psychological problems (stress, depression, anxiety, and substance abuse) and feelings of burnout among medical professionals all over the world and this has been shown to be associated with lapses in patient care. Data from India in this regard are limited.

Aims: To assess the various psychological problems (depression, perceived stress, and burnout) among medical professionals working in a government-funded tertiary care institute of India.

Materials and methods: An online e-mail survey was carried out among resident doctors and faculty members (a total of 1721 doctors). A total of 445 doctors (response rate-27.69%) responded to the survey. The survey included Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale, and Maslach Burnout Inventory.

Results: Of the eligible 1607 participants, 445 responders, 376 (77.75%) were resident doctors and 69 (15.5%) were faculty. As per the PHQ-9, 30.1% of participants were found to have depression and 16.7% of participants reported suicidal ideations. About two-thirds of the sample experienced moderate level of stress (67.2%) and another 13% of participants reported high level of stress. More than 90% of the participants reported some level of burnout. Compared to faculty, higher proportion of the residents reported stress, depression, and burnout. Presence of depression, stress, or burnout was associated with lower indulgence in recreational activities, experiencing verbal or physical abuse in the hand of patients/caregivers, feelings that seniors do not show empathy toward patients, and seniors do not show empathy toward them.

Conclusions: The present study suggests that a significantly higher proportion of doctors in Indian setting experience stress, depression, and burnout. The presence of stress, depression, and burnout is associated with long working hours and negative patient-related outcomes, adverse doctor-patient interactions, and interpersonal interactions among the colleagues.