Occupational burnout among medical staff in a designated infectious disease hospital in Lanzhou: differences by length of service

ObjectiveTo investigate the current status of occupational burnout among medical staff with different lengths of service in a designated infectious disease hospital in Lanzhou, and to analyze inter-group differences so as to provide a basis for stratified interventions.MethodsIn May 2025, a questionnaire survey was conducted among 290 on-duty medical staff of the hospital, and 278 valid questionnaires were returned (valid response rate: 95.86%). Occupational burnout was assessed with the Chinese revised version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory–Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS), and burnout level was classified according to the criteria proposed by Li Yongxin et al. The Kruskal-Wallis H test was used to compare groups based on measurement data; the Fisher-Freeman-Halton test was used to compare groups based on burnout levels; and Spearman's rank correlation analysis was used to examine the relationship between burnout levels and years of service.ResultsThe overall detection rate of occupational burnout was 66.91% (186/278). Total burnout scores did not differ significantly across groups (H = 8.956, P = 0.111). Scores on the diminished personal accomplishment dimension differed significantly among groups (H = 13.409, P = 0.020), with the 21–25-year group scoring higher than the 0–5-year group (adjusted P = 0.045). There were statistically significant differences in burnout levels between groups (P = 0.015), but no significant correlation was found between years of service and burnout levels (r = −0.016, P = 0.786); the 16–20-year group had the highest overall detection rate (83.33%), and the 21–25-year group had the highest proportion of severe burnout (15.38%).ConclusionOccupational burnout among medical staff at this hospital exhibits a distribution pattern characterized by “relatively high incidence in the middle to late stages, with varying manifestations across different dimensions.” It is recommended that a tiered intervention be implemented for the group with 16 to 20 years of service, placing equal emphasis on career development support and psychological support.