Factors associated with the burnout syndrome among professionals in pharmaceutical manufacturing industry and marketing 1234

Abstract

Certain authors describe some professions in the healthcare industry as the more susceptible ones to developing a burnout syndrome, while others suggest psychosocial aspects of the workplace as the primary cause in its creation, but not the aspects of the job itself. The main objective of the research was to investigate which specific factors were associated with the burnout syndrome among professionals working in pharmaceutical manufacturing industry and marketing. The study was conducted in June of 2016 as a cross-sectional study and it included 75 university educated professionals from the area of pharmaceutical industry and marketing employed in several local as well as internationally renowned pharmaceutical companies located in Belgrade. The participants were surveyed anonymously. The instruments used in the study were: a general socio-demographic questionnaire, an assertiveness self-evaluation questionnaire and the Maslach Burnout Inventory. An analysis of the responses in the burnout syndrome self-evaluation questionnaires showed that the highest level of burnout was expressed through reduced personal accomplishment (53%). The average assertiveness scores were the lowest in the individuals who demonstrated the highest level of emotional exhaustion (p=0.003), depersonalization (p=0.004), and the highest inefficiency on professional accomplishment scale (p=0.001). A statistically significant difference was observed in frequency and extent of emotional exhaustion with respect to respondents' gender (x2=10.779; p lt 0.05), as well as the line of business (x2=6.493; p lt 0.05). Levels of depersonalization are influenced by: line of work (x2=5.393; p lt 0.05), age (p=0.004), total years of service (p=0.009) and years of service in the profession (p=0.006). A sense of reduced personal accomplishment is influenced by a respondents' profession (x2=10.922; p lt 0.05) and line of business (x2=7.283; p lt 0.05). The results obtained in this study might help in identifying groups at risk for developing the burnout among the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry and drug marketing professionals. They might also assist in better assessing of the significance of interpersonal interactions between the employees for the purpose of planning the measures for the burnout prevention.

Pojedini autori navode da su neke profesije u oblasti zdravstvene delatnosti podložnije razvoju sindroma izgaranja, dok drugi sugerišu da karakteristike samog posla nisu najznačajniji uzročnici izgaranja na radu, već da primarnu ulogu u njegovom nastanku imaju psihosocijalni aspekti radnog mesta. Osnovni cilj istraživanja bio je da se ispita koji su faktori povezani sa sindromom izgaranja kod zaposlenih u farmaceutskoj industriji i marketingu. Ovo istraživanje je sprovedeno tokom juna 2016. godine kao studija preseka i obuhvatilo je 75 visokoobrazovanih profesionalaca iz domena farmaceutske industrije i marketinga, zaposlenih u nekoliko domaćih i renomiranih međunarodnih farmaceutskih kompanija sa teritorije Beograda. Anketiranje je bilo anonimno. Kao instrumenti istraživanja korišćeni su opšti sociodemografski upitnik, upitnik za samoprocenu nivoa asertivnosti i Maslač inventar izgaranja (eng. Maslach Burnout Inventory). Analiza odgovora iz upitnika za samoprocenu sindroma izgaranja pokazala je da se najviši stepen izgaranja ispoljava u dimenziji umanjenog ličnog postignuća 53%. Prosečne vrednosti asertivnosti bile su najmanje kod osoba sa najvišim nivoom emocionalne iscrpljenosti (p=0,003), depersonalizacije (p=0,004) i najvišim nivoom neefikasnosti na skali profesionalnog postignuća (p=0,001). Statistički značajna razlika pronađena je u zastupljenosti i izraženosti emocionalne iscrpljenosti u odnosu na pol ispitanika (x2=10,779; p lt 0,05) i oblast rada (x2=6,493; p lt 0,05). Na izraženost depersonalizacije utiču oblast rada (x2=5,393; p lt 0,05), godine starosti (p=0,004), ukupan radni staž (p=0,009) i radni staž u struci (p=0,006). Na osećaj umanjenog ličnog postignuća bitno utiču profesija (x2=10,922; p lt 0,05) i oblast rada (x2=7,283; p lt 0,05). Dobijeni rezultati mogli bi pomoći u identifikaciji rizičnih grupa za razvoj sindroma izgaranja među profesionalcima iz domena farmaceutske industrije i marketinga, kao i boljem sagledavanju značaja interpersonalnog funkcionisanja zaposlenih u cilju planiranja preventivnih mera.