Psychometric properties of the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) in Italian physicians

BackgroundAssessing burnout in physicians is relevant as it can adversely affect both their mental and physical health by also decreasing the quality of care, especially since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed at standardizing the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI), a psychometrically sound, worldwide-spread tool, in Italian physicians. MethodsNine-hundred and fifteen Italian physicians were web-administered the CBI, Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE). The present CBI is a self-report questionnaire including 18 Likert items (range=19-90) assessing Personal, Work-related and Client-related Burnout. Client-related adaptation was performed. Construct validity, factorial structure (Confirmatory Factor Analysis) and internal consistency were tested. Diagnostic accuracy was assessed simultaneously against the PHQ-8, GAD-7 and GSE. ResultsAll CBI measures yielded optimal internal consistency (Cronbachs =.90-.96). The CBI met its original three-factor model (CFI=.94; TLI=.93; RMSEA=.09; SRMR=.04), was positively related with the PHQ-8 (r=.76) and GAD-7 (r.=73), whereas negatively with the GSE (r=-.39), and yielded optimal diagnostics (AUC=.93; sensitivity=.91 and specificity=.85 at the optimal cut-off of 69/90). DiscussionThe CBI is a valid, reliable and normed tool to assess burnout levels in physicians, whose use is encouraged in both clinical practice and research as being short-lived, easy to use and openly accessible.