Validation of a single‐item measure of burnout against the Maslach Burnout Inventory among physicians

Abstract The measurement of burnout among physicians is important because physician well‐being has the potential to affect workforce stability and quality of care. In this study, a single‐item measure of burnout was validated against the sub‐scales of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment). Survey items included the 22‐item Maslach Burnout Inventory, a single‐item measure of burnout, and other questions regarding demographics, practice characteristics, and occupational satisfaction. The surveys were mailed to Texas Tech University School of Medicine Alumni classes of 1980–1989. The response rate was 43 per cent (n = 307). Pearson correlation coefficients and ANOVA were used to determine the association between the Maslach Burnout Inventory scores and the single‐item burnout question. The single‐item was correlated at r = 0.64 (p < 0.0001) with emotional exhaustion and the ANOVA yielded an R 2 of 0.5 (p < 0.0001). Hence, in surveys of physicians where emotional exhaustion is the primary sub‐scale of interest, a single‐item measure of burnout may be used as an alternative to the Maslach Burnout Inventory in order to abbreviate survey material and potentially increase response rates among physicians. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.