The results lend new insights into how and when burnout develops in medical students. Compared to the first year, when students are doing their pre-clinical work (that is, mostly in the classroom), the rate of burnout doubles during the third year when they start their clinical work (working with patients).

Burnout may decrease during the fourth year, as the students' growing sense of personal accomplishment counter-balances the negatives of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. "However," the researchers write, "it is alarming that so many third year students have either high or moderate emotional exhaustion or depersonalization."

Dr. Santen and colleagues suggest some steps that medical schools could take to help decrease burnout. For example, stress may be reduced by allowing students to take some time off or by de-emphasizing grades, at least in some situations. Decreasing stress, along with steps to increase support and control, may provide students with increased resiliency, providing "a stabilizing effect to prevent the development of burnout." Increasing the sense of personal accomplishment may also have a favorable effect.

Further studies are needed to develop and evaluate strategies to prevent burnout in medical students. If effective, such strategies might ultimately help to decrease the rate of burnout among practicing physicians, Dr. Santen and colleagues believe.

Source : Southern Medical Association