Clinical teaching self-efficacy positively predicts professional fulfillment and negatively predicts burnout amongst Thai physicians: a cross-sectional survey

Abstract Background Clinician teachers (physicians who teach in clinical settings) experience considerable psychological challenges in providing both educational training and patient care. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of physician burnout and professional fulfillment, and to identify internal and external factors associated with mental health outcomes among Thai clinician teachers working in non-university teaching hospitals. Method A one-time online questionnaire was completed by physicians at 37 governmental, non-university teaching hospitals in Thailand, with 227 respondents being assessed in the main analyses. Four outcomes were evaluated including burnout, professional fulfillment, quality of life, and intentions to quit. Results The observed prevalence of professional fulfillment was 20%, and burnout was 30.7%. Hierarchical regression analysis showed a significant internal, psychological predictor (clinical teaching self-efficacy) and external, structural predictors (multiple roles at work, teaching support), controlling for the background variables of gender, years of teaching experience, family roles, and active chronic disease, with clinical teaching self-efficacy positively predicting professional fulfillment ( b = 0.29, p ≤.001) and negatively predicting burnout ( b = − 0.21, p =.003). Conclusions Results highlight the importance of faculty development initiatives to enhance clinical teaching self-efficacy and promote mental health among Thai physicians.