Prevalence and factors associated with burnout in dental students of seven Cuban universities

Introduction: The burnout syndrome affects diverse populations and among them undergraduate students, which can weigh down their academic performance and professional future. Objective: This study aims to determine the prevalence and factors associated with burnout syndrome among dental students from seven Cuban universities. Methods: Multicenter, observational, analytical and cross-sectional study developed in 7 Cuban universities. The validated version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Students Survey (MBI-SS) was used as a dependent variable. Prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Results: A total of 738 students participated, of whom 470 (63.8%) were women. The average age was 21.7 ± 1.7 years. The prevalence of burnout was 34.8% (n = 257). In the multivariate model, it was found that having an academic advisor was associated with a high burnout score (RPa: 2.10; 95% CI: 1.18–3.74; p = 0.012). In contrast, having published a scientific article was associated with a lower score (RPa: 0.38; 95% CI: 0.23–0.64; p < 0.001). Conclusion: One third of the students presented burnout. Having an academic tutor and having made a scientific publication were the associated factors identified.