Table 4

Descriptive analysis of previously published burnout data in Greek doctors and comparison with the present study.

Studied population

Study authors and publication year

Burnout rates^a

Comparable data from the present study

Comparison^b

Comments

Internal medicine residents (n = 141) and internal medicine specialists (n = 103) of two Greek public hospitals

Panagopoulou et al, 2006

Internal medicine residents:

High EE in 70 (49.6%)

High DP in 86 (61.0%)

Internal medicine specialists:

High EE in 32 (31.0%)

High DP in 9 (8.7%)

All residents (n = 311):

High EE in 176 (56.6%)

High DP in 206 (66.2%)

Internal medicine residents (n = 39):

High EE in 23 (59.0%)

High DP in 30

No significant differences in burnout rates between the present study's residents (both total and internal medicine subgroup) and Panagopoulou et al.'s internal medicine residents were observed (P-values > 0.05). Burnout rates in the present study's residents were significantly higher compared to the internal medicine specialists group (P-values < 0.001)

Panagopoulou et al. did not include data on PA

Employees (n = 58) of two Pediatric Oncology Units and a Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit in a Greek children's hospital

Liakopoulou et al, 2008

High EE in 24 (41.4%)

High DP in 5 (8.6%)

Low PA in 11 (19%)

High EE in 176 (56.6%)

High DP in 155 (49.8%)

Low PA in 147 (47.3%)

The present study showed increased rates of high EE (P = 0.033), high DP (P < 0.001) and low PA (P < 0.001)

Liakopoulou et al. used different criteria to define high DP (scores ≥ 13) and low PA (scores ≤ 31). For comparison purposes, we adjusted our data to these criteria. The participants of this study were a heterogeneous group that included doctors, nurses and psychosocial staff

Family doctors of 12 European countries (n = 1393) including Greece (n = 45)

Soler et al, 2008

All participants

High EE in 599 (43%)

High DP in 492 (35.3%)

Low PA in 445 (32%)

Greek general practitioners

High EE in 14 (31.1%)

High DP in 33 (73.3%)

Low PA in 41 (91.1%)

All residents (n = 311):

High EE in 176 (56.6%)

High DP in 206 (66.2%)

Low PA in 182 (58.5%)

Greek general practice residents (n = 23)

High EE in 11 (47.8%)

High DP in 14 (60.9%)

Low PA in 13 (56.5%)

Compared to the total number of family doctors surveyed in 12 European countries, Greek residents showed significantly increased rates of high EE (P < 0.001), high DP (P < 0.001) and low PA (P < 0.001) while the Greek general practice residents had similar EE rates (P > 0.05), higher DP rates (P = 0.011) and increased rates of low PA (P = 0.013). Compared to the Greek arm of the study, Greek residents had significantly increased rates of high EE (P = 0.001), similar DP (P > 0.05) reduced rates of low PA scores, while Greek general practice residents had similar rates of EE and DP (P > 0.05) but reduced rates of low PA (P < 0.001)

^a EE, Emotional Exhaustion; DP, Depersonalization; PA, Personal Accomplishment

^b Comparisons were performed using Pearson's chi-square tests

Msaouel et al. Human Resources for Health 2010 8:16   doi:10.1186/1478-4491-8-16