• Nana K Ayisi-Boateng, Elizabeth M Bankah, Gerhard K Ofori-Amankwah, Dora A Egblewogbe, Emmanuel Ati, Douglas A Opoku, Emmanuel Appiah-Brempong, and Kathryn Spangenberg.
• Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi. ayisi31@gmail.com.
• Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med. 2020 Aug 19; 12 (1): e1-e6.

BackgroundThe occurrence of burnout amongst African health professionals has been widely anticipated, but there is a dearth of published data, especially amongst doctors. Burnout has been reported to be as high as 53% amongst doctors in the United States. If not detected, it can result in prescription errors, work-related accidents, substance abuse and depression.AimThe aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of burnout and its associated factors amongst a sample of physicians in Ghana.SettingThis study was conducted in Kumasi amongst physicians attending a conference organised by the West African College of Physicians, Ghana Chapter.MethodA cross-sectional study. Of the 90 physicians who registered for the conference, 60 responded to a self-administered Maslach Burnout Inventory questionnaire. Data were analysed descriptively and inferentially using STATA® version 14.ResultsApproximately 52% of respondents had been in medical practice for 10-19 years (mean 15.4 years). All the major medical specialties were represented. Internal Medicine had the highest number of participants (48.3%). With respect to the components of burnout, 5.5% of respondents experienced depersonalisation, 7.8% had a lack of personal achievement and 10.8% experienced emotional exhaustion. The association between burnout and age, sex, years of practice and clinical specialty was not found to be statistically significant.ConclusionThis pilot study has shown burnout to be common amongst physicians in Ghana. It is recommended that further studies are conducted, involving a larger cross-section of doctors in various parts of Africa.

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