Prevalence and associated factors of burnout among health sciences students in Spain: a systematic review

Objective:  There is growing concern about the occurrence of burnout syndrome in university students worldwide. This systematic review aimed to estimate the prevalence of burnout syndrome and its associated factors among health sciences students (HSS) in Spain.

Methods:  Five databases (MEDLINE/PubMed, PsycINFO, EMBASE, Dialnet and MEDES) were searched up to January 5, 2023, adhering to PRISMA guidelines. Quantitative studies reporting the prevalence of burnout syndrome among HSS in Spanish universities were considered. The reference lists of the selected studies were hand searched. Data were extracted from peer-reviewed articles.

Results:  Twenty-six studies were included with a total of 14,437 HSS. Most studies included nursing students (k = 11), followed by medicine students (k = 8), psychology students (k = 5), dental students (k = 2), physiotherapy students (k = 1) and pharmacy students (k = 1). Overall, study quality was fair. The most widely used instrument was the Maslach Burnout Inventory. The mean prevalence of burnout was 35.3% (k = 11 studies). However, rates varied widely between studies, which may be due to methodological differences. Inconsistent associations were found with gender and year of study. The relationship of burnout with academic and mental-health related variables was consistent across studies. Personal attributes, such as higher resilience, are likely protective against burnout.

Conclusion:  Burnout appears to be prevalent among HSS in Spain, and may be affected by academic, mental health and personality factors. Identifying risk and protective factors for burnout could help to develop preventive and management strategies to ultimately reduce its negative consequences in this population.

Systematic review registration:  PROSPERO (CRD42023387460).

Keywords:
Burnout syndrome; prevalence; university students; Spain; risk factors