Participating doctors were asked to use the screening form to detect cases of burnout among their patients. In three months, more than 1,000 cases of burnout were identified and analysed. "Based on these different cases, we established a frequency chart for the symptoms and workplace environment factors that were most often cited in cases of burnout," continues the occupational psychologist. 

The prevalence of burnout was 0.8% of the sample (1,089 cases out of 135,131 patient/worker contacts), when all the cases were taken into account. This represents more or less 19,000 people in Belgium. This is just the tip of the iceberg, however, since some employees try very hard to keep working, and don't consult a health professional even though they show early signs of burnout. These results are similar to those of a macro-economic study conducted in France in 2000, though it’s hard to make comparisons given the specificity of the method that was used. That study estimated that 1 to 1.4% of the French workforce was affected by a stress-related illness in 2000.

Beyond the study of prevalence, the data collected by the doctors allowed the researchers to confirm the usefulness of the diagnostic criteria. Workers frequently mentioned all of the symptoms that were listed on the detection form, which were chosen from the literature and from focus groups with health professionals. The most common were reduced energy levels (cited by 53% of patients), neurovegetative or functional complaints (52.6%), reduced motivation (48.4%), asthenia (45.7 %), frustration (44.4%), and irritability (41%). The symptom mentioned least often, a loss of idealism, was nonetheless cited by 18% of patients. No new criteria were detected, but the experiment allowed the researchers to validate the existing criteria.  

The purpose of this detection form was to provide health professionals with a tool to help them identify cases of burnout. Since they are on the front lines, GPs are the ones most likely to benefit from this form (as employees rarely visit their employer's occupational physician to discuss problems at work.). Yet GPs receive very little training in how to detect burnout, and some symptoms seem very difficult to identify. The goal of the detection form is thus to educate health professionals about burnout, to guide them in their diagnosis, and to help them distinguish between burnout and depression or other similar conditions. 

The innovative aspect of this tool is that the diagnostic is based on a health professional's clinical evaluation, rather than an employee’s self-assessment. All pre-existing tools included a questionnaire in which employees ranked themselves on a scale and evaluated their own level of burnout. "We wanted to develop an evaluation method to enable professionals to make a diagnosis, which is why we created our own burnout detection tool," says Isabelle Hansez, the research director.

Prevention and then treatment

In 2012, a second research phase was begun with the participation of health professionals, in order to improve the detection tool. A user guide was created to help doctors fill out the form and describe burnout symptoms more specifically. Special attention was also given to high-risk profiles, particularly workers with very high work expectations or who are overly dedicated to their work.