Burnout prevalence and risk factors among Belgian workers estimated by general and occupational physicians

Background
During the last decade, burnout is recognized as an important health issue because of its considerable social and economic costs. Due to the variation in definitions and in measurement instruments using self-report scales, prevalence of burnout in the working population ranges from 2% to more than 40%.
Methods
Based on literature and focus group meetings, we developed a screening form for estimating the prevalence of burnout in the Belgian active population by relying on the clinical judgment of general and occupational physicians. In 2010 this screening form was prospectively used by 346 physicians during a three months period and resulted in a burnout prevalence estimate of 0,8% (1089 cases out of 135.131 clinical contacts). Recently, the screening form was updated and a second survey took place in the spring of 2018.
Results:
During this second data collection period of 3 months, 126 physicians established 36.187 worker contacts and identified 507 burnout cases: prevalence is thus estimated at 1.4 %. In 2010 and 2018, stress and exhaustion were the most reported complaints together with sleep problems and loss of energy. Work pressure and conflict at work were negatively associated with burnout while social support and acknowledgement had a positive influence. No gender difference was observed.
Discussion:
For several diseases, an important difference is observed between the rate of complaints and the actual recourse to medical care. Although the prevalence of burnout estimated through the health care system increased in the second study, it is still largely lower than the rate derived from individual self-evaluations. A burnout screening form may help health professionals in identifying workers suffering from stress and burnout at work, thus opening perspectives for primary and secondary prevention strategie
s