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Study objectives: Burnout has been demonstrated to various extent in residents, practicing physicians, and department chairs. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of burnout and contributing factors in medical students. Methods: The design was a survey of medical students at 1 top-ranked medical school. We surveyed 249 medical students using a modified Maslach Burnout Inventory–Human Resources Survey. The survey also included an evaluation of stressors, assessment of workload, relaxation, control, accomplishment, support systems, and demographics. The response rate was 82%. Statistical analysis was performed using χ 2 and t test for univariate analysis. Factors significant on univariate analysis were entered in the multiple logistic regression. Results: A high degree of burnout was demonstrated in 2% of the first-year class, 15% of the second-year class, and 10% of the third-year class. A moderate or high degree of burnout was seen in 22% of the first-year class, 37% of the second-year class, and 41% of the third-year class. On univariate analysis, lower levels of support from administration, faculty, friends, family, and classmates were significantly associated with burnout ( P P Conclusion: We found a moderate amount of burnout reported across medical students groups, with the highest percentage during the third year. The data suggest that burnout progressively develops during the course of medical education, with the total amount of time spent studying and working as a contributing factor, whereas support and less response to stressors decreased burnout.

Study objectives: Unintentional injuries are the number 1 cause of death in children, with burns and scalds being the most common. The objective of this study is to determine parents' baseline burn prevention knowledge and whether the emergency department (ED) might be an effective setting to provide burn prevention educational materials. Methods: The design was a presurvey educational intervention and postsurvey of a convenience sample of parents at a dedicated pediatric ED with volume of 35,000. Parents filled out a presurvey consisting of demographic and burn-related questions. They were then given an informational handout with 5 illustrated messages about how to prevent burn injuries related to smoke alarms, temperature of water heaters, locking dangerous items, electrical outlets, and cooking safety. No discussion about these messages was conducted. Postsurveys were performed by telephone 7 to 10 days later. The 15-question postsurvey assessed parents' recall of information listed in the handout, whether parents had made any changes according to the handout, and whether they thought that they had learned anything from the experience. Study protocol had been approved by the hospital's institutional review board. Results: One hundred thirty-seven parents participated; the telephone response rate was 64%. For baseline burn prevention knowledge, 29% knew to change smoke alarm batteries yearly, 54% knew to set the water heater to less than 120°F, and 45% knew to lock dangerous items. Seventy-one percent thought that they learned something from the handout. Eighty-five percent would want to receive more information about injury prevention in the ED. The area that seemed to have most impact was cooking safety. Before the survey, 41 (47.1%) parents knew to place pots on the back burners of the stove; after the survey, 66 (75.9%) knew this ( P Conclusion: Baseline burn prevention knowledge is inadequate. Distribution of illustrated educational handouts improved cooking safety practices but not other practices. The majority thought that they learned from the materials and would benefit from prevention information.