Prevalence of burnout and its association with perceived academic workload among medical undergraduate: A mixed-method cross-sectional study from Mauritius

Abstract

Background: The main objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and academic predictive factors of burnout among medical undergraduate students attending Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Medical College (SSRMC), Mauritius.

Methods: A mixed-methods cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students studying at SSRMC between December 2025 and February 2026.

Results: A total of 232 students participated in the quantitative study with majority being females (147, 63.4%). The Burnout Assessment Tool-Student Version reported an average level of burnout (49.57%) with the exhaustion component being the most significant (mean = 3.45 ± 0.883). Descriptive analysis of the predictive factors showed that academic self-perception had the highest mean (3.266 ± 0.710) and perceptions of workload was identified as the only statistically significant predictor (β = -0.315, t = -3.968, p <0.001). A notable gender disparity was seen with female students demonstrating higher total burnout levels (mean difference 0.29). Qualitative analysis of twenty interviewees focused on identifying the understanding, causes, impact, coping strategies and recommendations for burnout, which revealed tedious academic and examination schedules among the important contributing factors for this phenomenon.

Conclusion: Burnout was highly prevalent among medical students, especially females, with academic workload being the most significant predictor.