Relationships between Medical Student Burnout, Empathy and Professionalism Climate: A Challenge for the Medical School Curriculum

Chantal M.L.R. Brazeau*, Robin Schroeder*, Sue Rovi* and Linda Boyd** *UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School and **Medical College of Georgia

Purpose: Medical student burnout is prevalent and there has been much discussion about burnout and professionalism in medical education and the clinical learning environment. Yet, few studies have attempted to explore relationships between those issues using validated instruments.

Methods: Medical students were surveyed at the beginning of 4th year using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy-Student Version (JSPE-S), and the Professionalism Climate Instrument (PCI). The data were analyzed using SPSS (statistical Package for the Social Sciences) and Spearman correlation analysis was performed. Results: Scores indicative of higher medical student burnout were associated with lower medical student empathy scores and with lower professionalism climate scores observed in medical students, residents and faculty.

Conclusions: Development of medical school curriculum interventions to address burnout and burnout prevention programs may result in improvement of empathy and desirable professional behaviors by students in the clinical learning environment.