Burnout among Academic Clinicians as It Correlates with Workload and Demographic Variables
Burnout syndrome (BOS) in academic physicians is a psychological state resulting from prolonged exposure to job stressors. It leads to a decline in overall job performance, which could result in misjudgment and serious clinical errors. The current study identifies the prevalence, as well as the pote...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-05-01
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| Series: | Behavioral Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/10/6/94 |
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| author | Aussama K. Nassar Susan Reid Kamyar Kahnamoui Faiz Tuma Abdul Waheed Meghan McConnell |
| author_facet | Aussama K. Nassar Susan Reid Kamyar Kahnamoui Faiz Tuma Abdul Waheed Meghan McConnell |
| author_sort | Aussama K. Nassar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Burnout syndrome (BOS) in academic physicians is a psychological state resulting from prolonged exposure to job stressors. It leads to a decline in overall job performance, which could result in misjudgment and serious clinical errors. The current study identifies the prevalence, as well as the potential demographic and workload variables that contribute significantly to BOS in academic clinicians. We distributed a modified version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) scale to the academic clinicians in our institution; 326/900 responded, with 56.21% male and 43.46% female. The MBI scale comprised of three dimensions of burnout: emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and personal accomplishment (PA). Higher scores in EE and DP and lower scores in PA were associated with a higher risk for burnout. In considering the work-life of academic clinicians, this study used a modified version of the MBI to reflect three hypothesized sources of burnout: interactions with students/trainees, interactions with patients, and interactions with administration, as reflected in these three dimensions. Along both the EE and DP dimensions of the MBI, burnout was highest for interactions with administration (51% and 44.8%), moderate for interactions with patients (26.4% and 34.5%), and lowest for interactions with students (11.7% and 9.8%). The highest scores along the personal accomplishment component was found for interactions with students and patients (33.7% and 33.4%). Regression analyses identified several factors associated with higher scores on the EE and DP scales: younger age, surgical specialty, low academic rank, academic main practice, female gender, numerous night shifts, and living alone. Furthermore, higher patient volume contributed significantly to the increasing PA. This study suggests that administrative interaction contributes significantly to burnout amongst physicians, followed by patient care and trainees. Furthermore, surgeons, females, single, early career, and younger faculty staff members are at higher risk of suffering from burnout. Further studies are needed to characterize the nature of administrative interactions that contribute to burnout and to solidify other contributing variables. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:32:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-27efe4cab90443fe9e305cffbf187929 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-328X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:32:27Z |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Behavioral Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-27efe4cab90443fe9e305cffbf1879292023-11-20T01:57:14ZengMDPI AGBehavioral Sciences2076-328X2020-05-011069410.3390/bs10060094Burnout among Academic Clinicians as It Correlates with Workload and Demographic VariablesAussama K. Nassar0Susan Reid1Kamyar Kahnamoui2Faiz Tuma3Abdul Waheed4Meghan McConnell5Department of Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USADepartment of Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S4L8, CanadaDepartment of Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S4L8, CanadaCentral Michigan, University College of Medicine, Mt Pleasant, MI 4885, USABrandon Regional Hospital, Brandon, FL 33511, USADepartment of Innovation in Medical Education, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N6N5, CanadaBurnout syndrome (BOS) in academic physicians is a psychological state resulting from prolonged exposure to job stressors. It leads to a decline in overall job performance, which could result in misjudgment and serious clinical errors. The current study identifies the prevalence, as well as the potential demographic and workload variables that contribute significantly to BOS in academic clinicians. We distributed a modified version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) scale to the academic clinicians in our institution; 326/900 responded, with 56.21% male and 43.46% female. The MBI scale comprised of three dimensions of burnout: emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and personal accomplishment (PA). Higher scores in EE and DP and lower scores in PA were associated with a higher risk for burnout. In considering the work-life of academic clinicians, this study used a modified version of the MBI to reflect three hypothesized sources of burnout: interactions with students/trainees, interactions with patients, and interactions with administration, as reflected in these three dimensions. Along both the EE and DP dimensions of the MBI, burnout was highest for interactions with administration (51% and 44.8%), moderate for interactions with patients (26.4% and 34.5%), and lowest for interactions with students (11.7% and 9.8%). The highest scores along the personal accomplishment component was found for interactions with students and patients (33.7% and 33.4%). Regression analyses identified several factors associated with higher scores on the EE and DP scales: younger age, surgical specialty, low academic rank, academic main practice, female gender, numerous night shifts, and living alone. Furthermore, higher patient volume contributed significantly to the increasing PA. This study suggests that administrative interaction contributes significantly to burnout amongst physicians, followed by patient care and trainees. Furthermore, surgeons, females, single, early career, and younger faculty staff members are at higher risk of suffering from burnout. Further studies are needed to characterize the nature of administrative interactions that contribute to burnout and to solidify other contributing variables.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/10/6/94burnoutcliniciansfactor analysisMaslach inventoryregression analysis |
| spellingShingle | Aussama K. Nassar Susan Reid Kamyar Kahnamoui Faiz Tuma Abdul Waheed Meghan McConnell Burnout among Academic Clinicians as It Correlates with Workload and Demographic Variables Behavioral Sciences burnout clinicians factor analysis Maslach inventory regression analysis |
| title | Burnout among Academic Clinicians as It Correlates with Workload and Demographic Variables |
| title_full | Burnout among Academic Clinicians as It Correlates with Workload and Demographic Variables |
| title_fullStr | Burnout among Academic Clinicians as It Correlates with Workload and Demographic Variables |
| title_full_unstemmed | Burnout among Academic Clinicians as It Correlates with Workload and Demographic Variables |
| title_short | Burnout among Academic Clinicians as It Correlates with Workload and Demographic Variables |
| title_sort | burnout among academic clinicians as it correlates with workload and demographic variables |
| topic | burnout clinicians factor analysis Maslach inventory regression analysis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/10/6/94 |
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