Burnout questionnaire - work wellbeing support
Peer reviewed by Dr Colin Tidy, MRCGPLast updated by Dr Krishna Vakharia, MRCGPLast updated 6 Jun 2023
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Since the pandemic, clinician burnout is being widely discussed. With the majority of primary care staff feeling so exhausted and disengaged that they are considering leaving their jobs, the focus is on monitoring and managing staff wellbeing.
Part of this is evaluating how staff feel about their jobs and their workplace so that measures are put in place to mitigate potential risks to their physical and mental wellbeing. By supporting jobs, workload and team culture we improve our working lives.
The Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI)1 measures burnout by covering questions on exhaustion (E) and disengagement (D). The totals can be grouped as an overall score, an exhaustion score and a disengagement score - so that these issues can be managed independently if needed. Generally the higher the score, the higher the likelihood of burnout.
| Strongly agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly disagree |
1. I always find new and interesting aspects in my work. (D) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
2. There are days when I feel tired before I arrive at work. (E) | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
3. It happens more and more often that I talk about my work in a negative way. (D) | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
4. After work, I tend to need more time than in the past in order to relax and feel better. (E) | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
5. I can tolerate the pressure of my work very well. (E) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
6. Lately, I tend to think less at work and do my job almost mechanically. (D) | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
7. I find my work to be a positive challenge. (D) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
8. During my work, I often feel emotionally drained. (E) | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
9. Over time, one can become disconnected from this type of work. (D) | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
10. After working, I have enough energy for my leisure activities. (E) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
11. Sometimes I feel sickened by my work tasks (D) | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
12. After my work, I usually feel worn out and weary. (E) | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
13. This is the only type of work that I can imagine myself doing. (D) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
14. Usually, I can manage the amount of work well. (E) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
15. I feel more and more engaged in my work. (D) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
16. When I work, I usually feel energised. (E) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Total |
|
|
Survey adapted from the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI) developed by Dr. Evangelia Demerouti1
D= Disengagement questions; E= Exhaustion questions
Scoring
| Low | Medium | High |
Total | <30 | 30-44 | >44 |
Exhaustion | <16 | 16-23 | >23 |
Disengagement | <15 | 15-22 | >22 |
Reviewing these scores can help to develop action plans in appraisals and team meetings. After implementing these measures, the survey can be repeated to show any improvements that have been made.
For further information on burnout, see 'Tips on managing well being in primary care' and 'Resources for healthcare professionals in managing burnout'.
Further reading and references
- Demerouti E, Bakker AB, Vardako I, Kantas A; The convergent validity of two burnout instruments. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 2003; 19(1), 12-23.
Article History
The information on this page is written and peer reviewed by qualified clinicians.
Next review due: 4 Jun 2028
6 Jun 2023 | Latest version
6 Jun 2023 | Originally published
Authored by:
Dr Krishna Vakharia, MRCGP
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