Burnout in Family Physicians in Eastern Croatia

Renata Božinovic¹ & Ljiljana Trtica Majnaric^2,3*

¹The Health Center Osijek, Croatia
²Faculty of Medicine of JJ Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
³Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health of JJ Strosmayer of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia

Dr. Ljiljana Trtica Majnaric, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Family Medicine and the History of Medicine and Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health, Department of Public Health, University of Osijek, Cro

Keywords: Family Physicians; Chronic Stress; Burnout; Economic Crisis

Abstract

Family physicians are among the top professions for burnout. This predisposition is in connection with their specific position in the healthcare system, at the interface with a general population. Not only a high workload but also an emotional transfer may produce a high level of chronic stress and subsequently lead to burnout. This process can be exaggerated in situations such as an economic crisis, when personal and existential factors may appear and contribute to the overall level of stress.
We conducted a survey in an eastern Croatian region, where in the last decades negative economic and demographic trends are taking place. In the group of 60 family physicians (median age 50), we found high levels of self-perceived stress and burnout, in the majority of the respondents. The factors associated with burnout included the marital status (married or divorced), children, lower physical and mental health, higher credit debts and religious affiliation. Some personality features, such as flexibility and adaptability, were identified as protective factors.

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