Burnout subtypes among Brazilian primary care professionals: Validation of the long and short Brazilian versions of the ‘Burnout Clinical Subtype questionnaire’ (BCSQ-36/BCSQ-12)

<b>Background:</b>Primary healthcare (PC) professionals show high levels of burnout. A new model of burnout has been developed to distinguish three clinical subtypes: “frenetic”, “under-challenged” and “worn-out”. The aim of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of the burnout subtypes among Brazilian PC professionals, and its possible associations with other psychological health-related outcomes and socio-demographic and labor variables. <b>Methods:</b>An online cross-sectional study conducted among Brazilian PC professionals was developed. Data on socio-demographic and labor characteristics were collected. Participants answered the “Burnout Clinical Subtypes Questionnaire” (BCSQ-36/BCSQ-12), “Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey” (MBI-GS), “Hospital Anxiety/Depression Scale” (HADS), “Positive/Negative Affect Schedule” (PANAS) and a “Visual Analogue Scale” (VAS) of guilt at work. The structure of the models was examined by confirmatory factor analysis; internal consistency by omega values; convergence with other constructs by Pearson’s correlations and multivariate linear regression and relationships with socio-demographic and labor variables by logistic regression.<b>Results:</b>A total of 407 participants were included in the study. The analyses found the bifactor was the model with the best fit to the data in all the burnout subtype scales using the long BCSQ-36, allowing the use of a general factor for each burnout subtype. The three-correlated first-order factors model fit better to the short BCSQ-12. Internal consistence was appropriate. The convergence between the long and short versions of the BCSQ was adequate, and the relationships between the burnout subtypes and the psychological health-related variables, reflected diverse characteristics for the distinct burnout profiles. The socio-demographic and labor data were differentialy related to the burnout subtypes, facilitating identification. <b>Discussion:</b>The Brazilian version of the BCSQ showed appropriate psychometrics to be used in PC professionals. The different burnout subtypes should be considered when designing specific interventions adjusted to the distinct characteristics associated with each clinical profile.