Observational studyBMJ open2025
Predictive value of burnout complaints and depressive symptoms for medically certified sickness absence among physicians in Sweden: a 1 year follow-up observational study.
Observational study in BMJ open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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The trial behind it
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Clinical and screening utility of the Burnout Assessment Tool: A comparative evaluation of BAT23, BAT12 and BAT4 in Sweden.Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health · 2026Article
- Assessing the Effect of a Rehabilitation Intervention on Exhaustion Disorders, Depression, and Return to Work: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of occupational rehabilitation · 2025Article
- Do job resources buffer the harmful effects of job demands on burnout complaints? A 1-year cohort study of Swedish healthcare professionals.International journal of nursing studies advances · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveThis study aimed to explore the predictive value of severe burnout complaints, symptom dimension of burnout and depressive symptoms for subsequent all-cause medically certified sickness absence (ACMCSA) during the pandemic among physicians in Sweden.
designA 1 year follow-up panel cohort observational study-the Longitudinal Occupational Health Survey for HealthCare in Sweden. At baseline (February-May 2021), a representative sample of 6699 physicians was drawn from the Swedish occupational register and invited to participate in the study. At follow-up (March-May 2022), the full sample (excluding those who died, retired, stopped working as a physician or migrated, n=94) was invited to answer the survey.
settingSwedish primary and specialist healthcare.
participantsAt baseline, the response rate was 41.3% (n=2761) of which 1575 also answered at follow-up. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: ACMCSA data came from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency. The Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT-23) was used to measure burnout, including a burnout total score and scores for the four symptom dimensions of exhaustion, mental distance, emotional impairment and cognitive impairment. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Symptom Checklist-core depression (SCL-CD6). Associations between baseline burnout and depressive symptoms and subsequent ACMCSA were estimated with logistic regression analyses.
resultsACMCSA was found in 9% of the participating physicians. In the sample, 4.7% had severe burnout complaints, and 3.7% had depressive symptoms. Burnout (OR=2.57; 95% CI=1.27 to 5.23) and the burnout symptom dimensions emotional impairment (OR=1.80; 95% CI=1.03 to 3.15) and cognitive impairment (OR=2.52; 95% CI=1.12 to 5.50) were associated with a higher likelihood of subsequent ACMCSA. Depressive symptoms were not associated with ACMCSA when adjusted for severe burnout complaints and other covariates.
conclusionThis study demonstrates the distinction between burnout and depressive symptoms, particularly in predicting future ACMCSA. Early intervention targeting exhaustion and burnout may mitigate symptom development and reduce the risk of ACMCSA.
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