Rates of Sexual Dysfunction and Burnout Syndrome in Medical Residents in Hospitals of Guayaquil: An Investigation of Their Relationship and Prevalence

Abstract

The present study investigates the relationship between burnout and sexual dysfunction in medical residents in Ecuador, due to the high prevalence of these issues in this group. The objective is to evaluate the association between burnout and sexual dysfunction in medical residents in Ecuador. An observational, cross-sectional, and descriptive study was conducted, in which the target population consisted of medical residents from public and private hospitals in Guayaquil and Samborondón. A simple random sampling method was used to select 121 residents, of whom 116 met the inclusion criteria: being medical residents in public or private hospitals, having worked in their residency for at least 6 months, and being willing to provide accurate and complete information. Data were collected through online surveys, including the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-HSS) and the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5). Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were performed to assess the associations between burnout and sexual dysfunction. Most participants were between 30 and 39 years old (58.6%) and had more than 6 months in their residency (89.7%). 67.2% worked more than 60 hours per week, 31.9% smoked cigarettes, and 29.4% regularly consumed alcohol. 57.5% had no children. 78.4% had high emotional exhaustion, 67.2% high depersonalization, and 24.1% had moderate to severe erectile dysfunction. A significant association was found between high levels of burnout and higher levels of erectile dysfunction (p = 0.013). The study highlights the significant prevalence of burnout and its association with sexual dysfunction in medical residents in Ecuador. These findings underscore the need for interventions aimed at reducing burnout to improve the overall health and professional performance of medical residents in Guayaquil and Samborondón.