Title: An analysis of resident physician occupational burnout in Turkey: implications for organisational culture

Authors: Mesut Akdere; Mehmet Top; Elif Dikmetas; Gülpembe Ergin

Addresses: Department of Technology Leadership & Innovation, Purdue University, 155 S. Grant Str., West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA ' Department of Health Care Management, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Hacettepe University, 06800 Beytepe – Ankara, Turkey ' School of Vocational Health Services, Ondokuz Mayis University, 55100 Samsun, Turkey ' Polar Health Economics and Policy Consulting Company, Hacettepe University Technocent, 06800 Beytepe – Ankara, Turkey

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to examine occupational burnout of resident physicians at a public university hospital in Turkey. The Maslach Burnout Inventory was used for measuring burnout levels - emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, and personal accomplishment - of physicians. All available 510 resident physicians were surveyed in this study. Approximately, 53% of the participants responded to all of the questions in this instrument. Our findings indicate that burnout levels of resident physicians vary significantly based on medical specialties of the participants. Emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation are significant repressors for personal accomplishment. Implications of occupational burnout on organisational culture are also discussed.

Keywords: occupational burnout; emotional exhaustion; depersonalisation; organisational culture; healthcare organisations; resident physicians; Turkey; university hospitals; personal accomplishment; medical specialties.

DOI: 10.1504/EJCCM.2014.071960

European Journal of Cross-Cultural Competence and Management, 2014 Vol.3 No.3/4, pp.240 - 256

Accepted: 12 Mar 2014
Published online: 25 Sep 2015 *

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