Burnout syndrome and psychological workplace violence among Peruvian physicians: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Physicians face increased emotional weariness as a result of the inherent stress and responsibility of their roles. In addition, they are vulnerable to abuse, coercion, and aggressiveness in their workplace settings. The link between burnout syndrome and psychological workplace v...

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Main Authors: Natalia Nombera-Aznaran, Janina Bazalar-Palacios, Milagros Nombera-Aznaran, Mariana Rojas-Del-Aguila, Roxana Aznaran-Torres
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:BMC Health Services Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12387-4
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author Natalia Nombera-Aznaran
Janina Bazalar-Palacios
Milagros Nombera-Aznaran
Mariana Rojas-Del-Aguila
Roxana Aznaran-Torres
author_facet Natalia Nombera-Aznaran
Janina Bazalar-Palacios
Milagros Nombera-Aznaran
Mariana Rojas-Del-Aguila
Roxana Aznaran-Torres
author_sort Natalia Nombera-Aznaran
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Physicians face increased emotional weariness as a result of the inherent stress and responsibility of their roles. In addition, they are vulnerable to abuse, coercion, and aggressiveness in their workplace settings. The link between burnout syndrome and psychological workplace violence (WPV) is complex and must be viewed as bidirectional. We assessed the association between the levels of burnout and psychological WPV among their colleagues among Peruvian physicians. Methods We performed a cross-sectional study that surveyed licensed Peruvian physicians actively practicing clinical medicine from April to December 2023. A non-probability convenience sampling via hospital interviews and diffusion through online platforms was carried out. The SPV-Health scale, validated for the Peruvian context, assessed psychological violence, while the MBI-HSS evaluated burnout dimensions. Descriptive statistics and Poisson regression models, adjusting for covariates, were employed for analysis. Results We included 384 medical doctors; most participants worked in urban areas, with nearly half being specialists or subspecialists, predominantly in medicine services. Physicians experiencing burnout were 4.04 times more likely to encounter psychological violence compared to those without burnout (95% CI: 2.45–6.57), even after adjusting for age, sex, medical positions and years of medical practice (PR: 3.93; 95% CI: 2.35–6.57). Among the risk factors for psychological violence, being a resident practitioner was the only significant one (PR: 1.79; 95% CI: 1.18–2.73). Conclusion Our study underscores a significant association between Burnout Syndrome among Peruvian doctors and their experience of psychological WPV from colleagues. Tailored interventions addressing these challenges are imperative, with organizational strategies offering potential while interventions for WPV require further investigation.
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spelling doaj-art-76eb475cbeb845208b379a807a5efc0f2025-08-20T02:11:22ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632025-04-012511910.1186/s12913-025-12387-4Burnout syndrome and psychological workplace violence among Peruvian physicians: a cross-sectional studyNatalia Nombera-Aznaran0Janina Bazalar-Palacios1Milagros Nombera-Aznaran2Mariana Rojas-Del-Aguila3Roxana Aznaran-Torres4Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Peruana Cayetano HerediaUniversidad Científica del SurFacultad de Medicina, Universidad Peruana Cayetano HerediaFacultad de Medicina Humana, Universidad Nacional de La Amazonía PeruanaEscuela de Posgrado, Universidad Privada Antenor OrregoAbstract Background Physicians face increased emotional weariness as a result of the inherent stress and responsibility of their roles. In addition, they are vulnerable to abuse, coercion, and aggressiveness in their workplace settings. The link between burnout syndrome and psychological workplace violence (WPV) is complex and must be viewed as bidirectional. We assessed the association between the levels of burnout and psychological WPV among their colleagues among Peruvian physicians. Methods We performed a cross-sectional study that surveyed licensed Peruvian physicians actively practicing clinical medicine from April to December 2023. A non-probability convenience sampling via hospital interviews and diffusion through online platforms was carried out. The SPV-Health scale, validated for the Peruvian context, assessed psychological violence, while the MBI-HSS evaluated burnout dimensions. Descriptive statistics and Poisson regression models, adjusting for covariates, were employed for analysis. Results We included 384 medical doctors; most participants worked in urban areas, with nearly half being specialists or subspecialists, predominantly in medicine services. Physicians experiencing burnout were 4.04 times more likely to encounter psychological violence compared to those without burnout (95% CI: 2.45–6.57), even after adjusting for age, sex, medical positions and years of medical practice (PR: 3.93; 95% CI: 2.35–6.57). Among the risk factors for psychological violence, being a resident practitioner was the only significant one (PR: 1.79; 95% CI: 1.18–2.73). Conclusion Our study underscores a significant association between Burnout Syndrome among Peruvian doctors and their experience of psychological WPV from colleagues. Tailored interventions addressing these challenges are imperative, with organizational strategies offering potential while interventions for WPV require further investigation.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12387-4BurnoutProfessionalWorkplace violencePeru (source: MeSH)
spellingShingle Natalia Nombera-Aznaran
Janina Bazalar-Palacios
Milagros Nombera-Aznaran
Mariana Rojas-Del-Aguila
Roxana Aznaran-Torres
Burnout syndrome and psychological workplace violence among Peruvian physicians: a cross-sectional study
BMC Health Services Research
Burnout
Professional
Workplace violence
Peru (source: MeSH)
title Burnout syndrome and psychological workplace violence among Peruvian physicians: a cross-sectional study
title_full Burnout syndrome and psychological workplace violence among Peruvian physicians: a cross-sectional study
title_fullStr Burnout syndrome and psychological workplace violence among Peruvian physicians: a cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed Burnout syndrome and psychological workplace violence among Peruvian physicians: a cross-sectional study
title_short Burnout syndrome and psychological workplace violence among Peruvian physicians: a cross-sectional study
title_sort burnout syndrome and psychological workplace violence among peruvian physicians a cross sectional study
topic Burnout
Professional
Workplace violence
Peru (source: MeSH)
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12387-4
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