Extracurricular activities associated with stress and burnout in preclinical medical students

This study aims to assess the prevalence of stress and burnout among preclinical medical students in a private university in Beirut, Lebanon, and evaluate the association between extracurricular involvement and stress and burnout relief in preclinical medical students. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on a random sample of 165 preclinical medical students. Distress level was measured using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire [GHQ-12] while that of burnout was measured through the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey [MBI-SS]. The MBI-SS assesses three interrelated dimensions: emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and academic efficacy. Extracurricular activities were divided into four categories: physical exercise, music, reading, and social activities. All selected participants responded. A substantial proportion of preclinical medical students suffered from stress [62%] and burnout [75%]. Bivariate and multivariate regression analyses revealed that being a female or a 1st year medical student correlated with higher stress and burnout. Music-related activities were correlated with lower burnout. Social activities or living with parents were associated with lower academic efficacy. The high stress and burnout levels call for action. Addressing the studying conditions and attending to the psychological wellbeing of preclinical medical students are recommendations made in the study

Financial characteristics and satisfaction of physicians practicing in Lebanon: a survey study

The objective of this study was to evaluate the financial characteristics and level of satisfaction of physicians practicing in Lebanon. We conducted an anonymous, interviewer- administered phone survey of physicians practicing medicine in Lebanon. We conducted both descriptive and regression analyses. Of 778 invited physicians, 546 participated in the survey [70% response rate]. Their mean age was 47.4 and they were predominantly male [85.9%] and married [87.0%]. Reported monthly income varied widely with 47.2% earning less than US[dollar sign] 2,000, 46.3% earning between [dollar sign] 2,000 and [dollar sign] 6,000 and 6.3% earning more than [dollar sign] 6,000. Only 14.2%, 4.1%, and 3.1% respectively reported having life insurance, disability insurance and a retirement plan. A quarter of participants reported being either somewhat unsatisfied [17.6%] or very unsatisfied [8.1%] with their medical career. A lower degree of satisfaction in professional career was independently associated with female physicians, graduation from a Western European medical school and a lower monthly income. As for the perception of own career's future, 36.7% thought there was no possibility of improvement. About half of physicians practicing in Lebanon report earning less than US[dollar sign] 2,000 per month and about a quarter are not satisfied with their professional career