Validity and Reliability of a Japanese Version of the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory–Medical Student: A Study on Students in Clinical Clerkships

Background Burnout, characterised by exhaustion, disengagement, and diminished professional efficacy, represents a significant concern in medical education, particularly during clinical training. Although the construct has been extensively studied worldwide, a validated Japanese version of the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory for Medical Students (OLBI-MS) was previously unavailable. Methods Following the Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN), we translated and culturally adapted the OLBI-MS into Japanese. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 195 fifth- and sixth-year medical students during psychiatry clinical clerkships at two Japanese university hospitals. Participants completed an online survey comprising the Japanese OLBI-MS and other established instruments: the Maslach Burnout Inventory–General Survey, Work-related Acceptance and Action Questionnaire, Valuing Questionnaire, Perceived Devaluation–Discrimination Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and a mistreatment measure. We examined internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega), test–retest reliability (intraclass correlation), and structural validity (confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses, and bifactor modelling). Measurement invariance by gender and hypothesis-based construct validity (via Pearson correlations) were also assessed. Results The original 16-item version exhibited poor model fit. The refined 11-item version demonstrated a robust two-factor structure (Exhaustion and Disengagement) and acceptable fit across exploratory and bifactor models. The instrument showed strong internal consistency (alpha and omega ≥ 0.77), high test–retest reliability (ICC ≥ 0.80), and confirmed gender invariance. Construct validity was supported through expected correlations with related psychological measures. Conclusions The Japanese OLBI-MS is a psychometrically sound and culturally suitable instrument for assessing burnout among medical students in clinical training. The 11-item version offers a practical tool for ongoing assessment and may facilitate cross-cultural and longitudinal research on medical student well-being.