[Burnout in general practitioners].
BACKGROUND
The term "burnout" refers to emotional and physical exhaustion, indifference, cynicism, a reduced sense of work satisfaction, and social withdrawal, which - apart from internal factors - are contingent upon work overload, a lack of "control" options, i.e., possibilities in self-determination, inadequate financial compensation, breakdown of social networks, absence of fairness, and conflicting basic values. The boundaries between the notions of burnout and depression are porous.


METHODS
General practitioners in Tirol were the subject of a survey using the Maslach Burnout Inventory and supplementary items in a questionnaire; the return rate was 41.3 %.


RESULTS
Over a third of participants (35.8 %) reported that they were "in danger of burnout"; 27.2 % indicated high burnout values for the categories of emotional exhaustion, 3.2 % for depersonalization, and 10.0 % for cynicism. The mean values were outside of the range which might warrant therapeutic intervention. The study did not reveal any noteworthy correlations based upon either age or gender (p > 0.05). Medical professionals licensed under the national health insurance plan tended to show greater burnout than professionals practicing outside the public plans. GPs who took part in supervisory services reported significantly less burnout.


CONCLUSIONS
The data suggests that the topic of burnout in the medical profession in Austria continues to merit study and discussion and that the provision of supervision might be a relevant option.
Interuniversitäres Kolleg für Gesundheit und Entwicklung, Graz/Schloss Seggau, Osterreich. college@inter-uni.net
Susanne
S
Fuchs
P C
PC
Endler
Elke
E
Mesenholl
Paul
P
Pass
Michael
M
Frass
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001317:Austria; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011331:Private Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology