5 research outputs found
Burnout and training satisfaction of medical residents in Greece: will the European Work Time Directive make a difference?
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of burnout in Greek medical residents, investigate its relationship with training satisfaction during residency and survey Greek medical residents' opinion towards the European Work Time Directive (EWTD).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A Multi-centre, cross-sectional survey of Greek residents was performed. The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) was used to measure burnout, which was defined as high emotional exhaustion, combined with high depersonalization or low personal accomplishment. In addition, seven questions were designed for this study to evaluate self-reported resident training satisfaction and three questions queried residents' opinion on the EWTD and its effects on their personal and social life as well as their medical training. Univariate, bivariate and multivariate statistical models were used for the evaluation of data.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Out of 311 respondents (77.8% response rate), 154 (49.5%) met burnout criteria and 99 (31.8%) indicated burnout on all three subscale scores. The number of residents that were dissatisfied with the overall quality of their residency training were 113 individuals (36.3%). Only 32 residents (10.3%) believed that the EWTD implementation will not have any beneficial effects for them.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Both burnout and training dissatisfaction were common among Greek residents. Systemic interventions are thus required within the Greek health system, aimed at reducing resident impairment due to burnout and at improving their educational and professional perspectives. Although residents' opinion on the EWTD was not associated with burnout levels, the EWTD was found to be predominantly supported and anticipated by Greek residents and should be implemented to alleviate their workload and stress.</p
Greek medical students' career choices indicate strong tendency towards specialization and training abroad
The aim of the study was to investigate the career choices, location
preferences and criteria among medical students in Greece. We applied a
questionnaire-based analysis using a sample of 591 students of four out
of seven Greek Medical Schools. The sample included students of all
academic years. The vast majority of students wish to specialize
(97.6%), while general practice gathered a very low percentage (1.7%).
The scientific challenge (61.4%) and interaction with patients (60.6%)
seem to be the major influencing factors for most of the students’
specialty preferences, whilst less common variables influencing career
choice are the high demand/supply ratio for certain health services
(40.4%), the income potential (31.4%), the active tempo (26.2%) and
prestige (15%). 70.3% of those asked consider the possibility of
specializing abroad. The low concern of Greek medical students for
general practice reveals today’s drastic deficiency in Greek primary
health care. Such a situation will escalate, unless targeted strategies
to produce more general practitioners are adopted. Furthermore, the
results reflect a lower education and organizing level urging students
to specialize abroad. The National Health System (NHS) should be
reformed towards a rationalistic distribution of the medical specialties
and medical workforce. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights
reserved