Psychology Research and Behavior Management (Jul 2022)

Burnout Among Saudi Radiological Sciences Undergraduate Students During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

  • Alshamrani KM,
  • Alkenawi AA,
  • Kaifi R,
  • Alsharif S,
  • Merdah AS,
  • Munshi WE,
  • Alattas AK,
  • Althaqafy M,
  • Qurashi AA,
  • Alsharif WM,
  • Alshareef AS

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 15
pp. 1637 – 1648

Abstract

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Khalid M Alshamrani,1– 3 Abdulkader A Alkenawi,1– 3 Reham Kaifi,1– 3 Shaza Alsharif,1– 3 Abdulaziz S Merdah,1 Wael E Munshi,1 Ahmed K Alattas,1 Majid Althaqafy,1– 3 Abdulaziz A Qurashi,4 Walaa M Alsharif,4 Ali S Alshareef1– 3 1College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 2King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 3Ministry of the National Guard - Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 4Diagnostic Radiology Technology, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, Madinah, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Khalid M Alshamrani, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, P. O. Box 9515, Internal Mail Code 6610, Jeddah, 21423, Saudi Arabia, Tel +966 12-2266666 Ext. 46396, Email [email protected]: The novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has posed unprecedented new stressors and challenges to the applied health sciences’ education. This study explored the prevalence of burnout among Saudi radiological sciences students at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between November and December 2020 among 176-Saudi radiological sciences students, using the 16-item questionnaire of Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey for Students and through non-probability convenient sampling technique. The 16 items of the questionnaire were scored on a 7-point frequency rating scale ranging from 0 (never) to 6 (every day) and consisted of three distinct burnout dimensions/subscales: a) emotional exhaustion (5-items), cynicism (5-items), and professional efficacy (6-items). The means of individual items that make up each scale of burnout were calculated, and statistical analysis was performed using the Mann–Whitney U-test.Results/Observations/Findings: From the 176-radiological sciences students approached, 96 (54.5%) completed the questionnaire. The percentage of students who were at moderate to high risk of burnout was 70.8% for emotional exhaustion, 75% for cynicism, and 74% for professional efficacy subscales. Emotional exhaustion was significantly higher among fourth-year students (P = 0.042), than third-year students. Cynicism was significantly higher among fourth-year female students (P = 0.035), than third-year female students. The professional efficacy was significantly lower among fourth-year female students (P = 0.007) than males.Conclusion: Our study shows 73.3% moderate to high burnout rates among Saudi radiological sciences students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Burnout increases as students advance to the fourth year. A block/modular curriculum structure for fourth-year courses may be necessary to reduce burnout among fourth-year students. Academic counseling can ease students’ emotional stress and reduce burnout risk.Keywords: burnout syndrome, COVID-19 pandemic, psychological resilience, health education, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, radiologic technology

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