ArticleAfrican journal of primary health care & family medicine2024
Burnout among community service doctors in South Africa.
Article in African journal of primary health care & family medicine, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Stress and retention challenges among rural and regional physicians: a mixed-methods systematic review and framework for action.Journal of public health (Oxford, England) · 2026Pooled it
- Preventing and reducing burnout globally: a six continent thematic assessment.Research connections · 2026Article
- Pandemic preparedness: The case for sentinel surveillance of doctors' burnout.Journal of the colleges of medicine of South Africa · 2026Article
- Burnout and perceived stress in medical interns working at a hospital in Windhoek, Namibia.Journal of the colleges of medicine of South Africa · 2026Article
- Managing mental health disorders: Experiences of primary care providers in rural South Africa.African journal of primary health care & family medicine · 2025Observational
- Burnout components, perceived stress and hair cortisol in healthcare professionals during the second wave of COVID 19 pandemic.Scientific reports · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundBurnout in doctors is an important issue with far-reaching consequences. Community service doctors may be particularly vulnerable because of their specific roles (rural settings, junior positions and reduced supervision).
aimThis study aimed to determine the prevalence of burnout among community service doctors in South Africa (SA), the potential contributory and protective factors and the consequences thereof.
settingThis was a national study of community service doctors in SA.
methodsA quantitative, descriptive cross-sectional study was performed. The Maslach Burnout Inventory was used to measure burnout. The online questionnaire also included demographic data, workplace and individual characteristics.
resultsOf the 208 community service doctors analysed, 89% and 94% had high emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation, respectively, while 97% had a low personal accomplishment. Mental illness, financial difficulties, unmanageable volume of patients and female gender were found to be potential contributory factors. Having manageable patient volumes, satisfaction with their decision to study medicine, talking to colleagues and feeling supported by healthcare facility management were among the significant potential protective factors. Significant potential consequences of burnout included: leaving the government sector, ever being diagnosed with a mental illness, using alcohol as a coping mechanism and possible current major depression.
conclusionBurnout among community service doctors in SA is highly prevalent with significant potential consequences. There are a number of modifiable possible contributory and protective factors identified that may be targets for mental health interventions.Contribution: Healthcare burnout research is lacking in the African and specifically SA context. This void includes community service doctors.
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