Effects of Burnout on Quality of Life Among MBBS House Officers in Government and Private Hospitals of Karachi

Background: Burnout is a prevalent occupational hazard among medical professionals, particularly MBBS house officers undergoing intensive clinical training. Characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and diminished personal accomplishment, burnout adversely affects physician performance, well-being, and patient care quality. Variations in institutional environments between public and private hospitals may modulate the severity and impact of burnout symptoms. Objective: To evaluate the effects of burnout on quality of life (QOL) among MBBS house officers working in government and private hospitals in Karachi, and to identify associated demographic and institutional factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2023 to January 2024 involving 378 house officers aged 24–28 years from six hospitals in Karachi using non-probability purposive sampling. Participants completed the Maslach Burnout Inventory and WHOQOL-BREF (Australian Version). Data were analyzed using SPSS v21.0. ANOVA, independent t-tests, and multiple regression were applied to assess associations between burnout domains and QOL scores across gender and institutional sectors. Results: Higher levels of depressive anxiety syndrome were significantly associated with lower scores in physical (p = 0.001), psychological (p = 0.003), and social (p = 0.005) QOL domains. Private sector house officers showed higher burnout yet reported better environmental and total QOL scores. Personal achievement positively predicted QOL across all domains (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Burnout substantially compromises the quality of life of house officers, with sector-specific patterns suggesting greater emotional strain in private institutions despite favorable environmental conditions. Enhancing institutional support and promoting professional accomplishment are critical to mitigating burnout.