Occupational burnout among doctors at Mankweng and Pietersburg hospitals, Limpopo province

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess the presence of occupational burnout among full-time employed doctors of all ranks at the Mankweng and Pietersburg tertiary academic hospitals in South Africa’s Limpopo province. METHODS: A quantitative, observational study was conducted firstly to determine whether burnout was present among medical doctors at these institutions and, secondly, to quantify the amount of burnout in those affected. Data collection was done using structured questionnaires. All ranks of medical doctors from various departments participated in the study, resulting in a total sample size of 150. RESULTS: The study revealed that occupational burnout was present at these institutions, with an overall prevalence of 36%. When compared to other studies conducted at public sector hospitals in South Africa, this figure appears to fall within the middle range. However, different studies have used different criteria to measure burnout. CONCLUSION: Currently, there is too much variation in the criteria of burnout among different studies, making comparisons difficult. More studies are needed to standardise the measurement of burnout. CONTRIBUTION: The main contribution of the research is to understand the extent of burnout at the tertiary hospital in Limpopo province.