Copenhagen Burnout Inventory

What is the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory questionnaire?

The Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) questionnaire is a tool designed to measure burnout by assessing three dimensions: personal, work-related, and client-related. Unlike other burnout measures, the CBI focuses on the subjective experiences of fatigue and exhaustion, making it a practical resource for identifying burnout symptoms and their root causes. It focuses on three dimensions (Kristensen et al., 2005):

• Personal burnout: This measures the degree of physical and psychological fatigue and exhaustion experien­ced by the person.
• Work-related burnout: This evaluates the degree of physical and psychological fatigue and exhaustion that a person perceives as related to their work.
• Client-related burnout: This assesses the degree of physical and psychological fatigue and exhaustion that the person perceives as related to their work with clients.

Like the Maslach burnout inventory, CBI provides a possible score range for each dimension, helping practitioners gauge the severity of burnout. Higher scores indicate a high degree of burnout, signaling a need for intervention.

How to use our Copenhagen Burnout Inventory template

Carepatron has created a free CBI template for easy administration and clinical documentation. Follow these steps to get started:

Step 1: Download the CBI template

Access the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory template by clicking "Use template," allowing you to modify the resource via the Carepatron app. For a free PDF version that you can print, click "Download."

Step 2: Give your patient a copy

Distribute the CBI template to your patients, ensuring they understand the instructions. Encourage them to answer each question honestly and accurately to reflect their experience of burnout across the personal, work-related, and client-related dimensions.

Step 3: Collect the completed template

Once the patient has filled out the questionnaire, collect the completed form. Review their responses to assess the level of burnout they may be experiencing in each of the three dimensions.

Step 5: Analyze the results

Review the scores to identify areas of concern. High scores in any of the three dimensions may indicate higher levels of burnout, which may require further intervention or support. You can use the overall burnout score to assess the severity of burnout and tailor your clinical approach accordingly.

Scoring

The Copenhagen Burnout Inventory uses a scoring system based on a 0-100 scale for each item, with five response options to measure different dimensions of burnout. As mentioned, the CBI has three subscales: personal burnout, work-related burnout, and client-related burnout, each focusing on different aspects of burnout and using different response formats (Kristensen, 2019):

Personal burnout

This scale measures the degree of physical and psychological exhaustion an individual feels. The items assess fatigue, emotional exhaustion, and physical weakness, with response options ranging from "Always" (100) to "Never/almost never" (0).

Work-related burnout

Work-related burnout evaluates the exhaustion linked to an individual’s work. The items consider feelings of exhaustion related to the workday, emotional exhaustion from work, and frustration or burnout due to work. This scale uses a similar 0-100 scale, but some items are scored with the phrases “To a very high degree” down to “To a very low degree.” One item in this subscale is also reverse scored.

Client-related burnout

This scale measures the fatigue associated with client interactions for employees working with clients. Items ask about feelings of frustration, energy depletion, and whether the respondent feels they give more than they receive in client interactions. Scoring follows the same format as the work-related burnout scale, with some items using the same 0-100 scoring range.

The scores for items within each dimension are averaged to produce individual scores for personal, work-related, and client-related burnout. The overall burnout score is then calculated by averaging these subscale scores, resulting in a total score ranging from 0 to 100.

There are no cut-off scores to classify individuals into specific levels of burnout. Burnout exists on a continuum, ranging from complete exhaustion to full vitality, and using a cut-point may not fully capture the breadth of this experience (Kristensen, 2019).

Next steps after using the inventory

Here are the next steps you can take after administering the CBI to your patients:

Review scores and identify burnout symptoms

After completing the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, review the results to identify signs of personal burnout, work-related burnout, and client-related burnout. High scores in specific domains may highlight areas where the individual is experiencing emotional exhaustion, physical fatigue, or feelings of being emotionally exhausted. Understanding these symptoms helps pinpoint the root causes of burnout, whether related to the psychosocial work environment, client demands, or personal stressors.

Investigate root causes

Use the results to explore contributing factors to burnout, such as long working hours, a stressful working environment, or insufficient energy during leisure time. Factors like work-emotional exhaustion, job satisfaction, or lack of personal accomplishment may also play a role. For individuals in the human service sector, client interactions may be a significant factor in their burnout syndrome.

Plan interventions and support

Based on the scores, develop tailored interventions to address burnout symptoms. Consider strategies to improve the working environment for work-related burnout, such as workload management or fostering team support to ensure enough energy to complete their role. For personal burnout, focus on promoting well-being through stress reduction techniques and time for recovery. Encourage boundaries and self-care practices for client-related burnout to mitigate exhaustion from intensive client interactions.

Monitor progress and assess well-being

Reassess burnout regularly using the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory to track progress and refine interventions. This process ensures a focus on improving motivation, reducing stress, and enhancing overall job satisfaction.

References

Kristensen, T. S., Borritz, M., Villadsen, E., & Christensen, K. B. (2005). The Copenhagen Burnout Inventory: A new tool for the assessment of burnout. Work & Stress, 19(3), 192–207. https://doi.org/10.1080/02678370500297720

Kristensen T. (2019). Copenhagen Burnout Inventory: The three scales and the scoring system. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e5884c1459d9a210f44e9aa/t/603ee6c3aef8030d8d79b1f0/1614735044760/Information+sheet+on+CBI.docx