A Cross-Sectional Study on Physical Activity and Burnout among Family Physicians in Slovenia during the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Are the Results Alarming Enough to Convince Decision-Makers to Support Family Medicine?

Abstract

Physical activity has a positive effect on general health, but its influence on burnout remains unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the association between physical activity and the incidence of burnout in Slovenian family physicians (FPs) and family medicine trainees (FMTs) during the COVID-19 pandemic, which exacerbated the already-existing problem of burnout. We conducted a cross-sectional observational study among Slovenian family physicians and FMTs in which sociodemographic variables, the type and duration of physical activity, and an assessment of burnout were collected using the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Comparisons between groups were made using the independent-samples t-test, Fisher’s exact test, and the Wilcoxon sign-rank test. A value of p p p = 0.010, respectively), but work status was not related to personal acomplishment, which 53.5% of all participants rated as low. Physical activity did not appear to be a statistically significant factor in the occurrence of burnout during the pandemic. Therefore, work status or occupational role (FP vs. FMT) should be thoroughly investigated in the future along with some other factors and a better response rate.

Keywords

• physical activity
• burnout
• primary care
• family physician
• family medicine trainee
• COVID-19 pandemic