This methodological study developed and validated the Treatment-Related Burnout Scale for Rheumatic Diseases (TBS-RD), a new 28-item instrument, across two independent samples of patients with rheumatologic diseases (n=260 for exploratory analysis, n=248 for confirmatory analysis).
The final 28-item, 4-factor scale (Emotional and Cognitive Exhaustion, Treatment-Related Exhaustion, Disease-Related Functional Burden, Healthcare System and Treatment Process Burden) explained 63.30% of total variance. Cronbach's alpha was 0.966 overall (subscales: 0.853–0.953). CFA fit was acceptable but not optimal (χ²/df=2.86, RMSEA=0.087, CFI=0.875). Patients showed moderate treatment-related burnout; gender was significantly associated with emotional and cognitive exhaustion.
- CFA model fit was acceptable but not optimal (CFI=0.875, RMSEA=0.087), suggesting the factor structure may need further refinement. - The study was conducted in a single country (Türkiye), limiting generalizability. - No external criterion validity (e.g., comparison with established burnout or treatment burden measures) was reported.
Rheumatologists should be aware that patients with rheumatic diseases carry a moderate psychosocial burden from long-term treatment, particularly emotional and cognitive exhaustion—and this burden differs by gender. The TBS-RD offers a preliminary structured tool to screen for treatment-related burnout in clinical practice, though further validation in diverse populations is needed before routine use.
