Burnout in Pediatric Nephrology Fellows and Faculty: Lessons From the Sustainable Pediatric Nephrology Workforce Project (SUPERPOWER)

Physician well-being is an important contributor to both job satisfaction and patient outcomes. Rates of burnout among physicians vary by specialty, ranging from 35 to 70%. Among pediatric residents, longitudinal data demonstrates consistent rates of burnout around 50-60%, although little is known a...

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Main Authors: Susan M. Halbach, Kartik Pillutla, Patricia Seo-Mayer, Alan Schwartz, Darcy Weidemann, John D. Mahan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2022-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Pediatrics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2022.849370/full
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author Susan M. Halbach
Susan M. Halbach
Kartik Pillutla
Patricia Seo-Mayer
Alan Schwartz
Alan Schwartz
Darcy Weidemann
Darcy Weidemann
John D. Mahan
author_facet Susan M. Halbach
Susan M. Halbach
Kartik Pillutla
Patricia Seo-Mayer
Alan Schwartz
Alan Schwartz
Darcy Weidemann
Darcy Weidemann
John D. Mahan
author_sort Susan M. Halbach
collection DOAJ
description Physician well-being is an important contributor to both job satisfaction and patient outcomes. Rates of burnout among physicians vary by specialty, ranging from 35 to 70%. Among pediatric residents, longitudinal data demonstrates consistent rates of burnout around 50-60%, although little is known about burnout among pediatric subspecialty fellows. Specifically, the degree of burnout among pediatric nephrologists remains unknown, as does the impact faculty burnout may have on trainee burnout. We sought to evaluate prevalence and predictors of burnout among US pediatric nephrology fellows and faculty, and assess for interactions between groups. In this multi-center pilot survey of all United States pediatric nephrology training programs from February to April 2020, burnout was assessed through abbreviated Maslach Burnout Inventory and predictors were explored through survey items devoted to demographic, personal characteristics, and job and career satisfaction questions. A total of 30/34 available fellows and 86/102 faculty from 11 institutions completed the survey (overall response rate 85%). The prevalence of burnout was 13% among fellows and 16% among faculty. Demographic (age, gender, year of training, faculty rank, marital status) and program factors (fellowship size, faculty size, current block/rotation, vacation or weekend off timing) were not significantly associated with burnout. Faculty and fellows with burnout reported significantly lower quality of life (5.3 vs. 7.9, p < 0.05), higher perceived stress (2.4 vs. 1.4, p < 0.05) and lower satisfaction with career choice (66 vs. 22%) and work life balance (28 vs. 0%), compared to those without burnout (p < 0.05 for all). Other important factors positively associated with burnout included lower institutional support for wellness programs and lower satisfaction with both colleague and faculty support. Larger studies are needed to explore if burnout is truly less prevalent among pediatric nephrology fellows and faculty compared to pediatric residents and graduate physicians. A larger sample size is also necessary to determine whether any interactions exist between the faculty and trainee roles in the developments of burnout. Future studies should also explore how to promote well-being through addressing key factors such as overall learning/working environment, stress reduction, and building personal resilience.
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spelling doaj.art-d176d57dd57b408cb65be697e2d236292022-12-22T03:36:44ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pediatrics2296-23602022-05-011010.3389/fped.2022.849370849370Burnout in Pediatric Nephrology Fellows and Faculty: Lessons From the Sustainable Pediatric Nephrology Workforce Project (SUPERPOWER)Susan M. Halbach0Susan M. Halbach1Kartik Pillutla2Patricia Seo-Mayer3Alan Schwartz4Alan Schwartz5Darcy Weidemann6Darcy Weidemann7John D. Mahan8Division of Nephrology, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA, United StatesDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United StatesDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Texas Dell Medical School, Austin, TX, United StatesDivision of Nephrology, Inova Children's Hospital, Falls Church, VA, United StatesDepartment of Medical Education and Department of Pediatrics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United StatesAssociation of Pediatric Program Directors, McLean, VA, United StatesDivision of Nephrology, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, United StatesDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Missouri—Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, MO, United StatesDivision of Nephrology and Hypertension, Nationwide Children's Hospital, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United StatesPhysician well-being is an important contributor to both job satisfaction and patient outcomes. Rates of burnout among physicians vary by specialty, ranging from 35 to 70%. Among pediatric residents, longitudinal data demonstrates consistent rates of burnout around 50-60%, although little is known about burnout among pediatric subspecialty fellows. Specifically, the degree of burnout among pediatric nephrologists remains unknown, as does the impact faculty burnout may have on trainee burnout. We sought to evaluate prevalence and predictors of burnout among US pediatric nephrology fellows and faculty, and assess for interactions between groups. In this multi-center pilot survey of all United States pediatric nephrology training programs from February to April 2020, burnout was assessed through abbreviated Maslach Burnout Inventory and predictors were explored through survey items devoted to demographic, personal characteristics, and job and career satisfaction questions. A total of 30/34 available fellows and 86/102 faculty from 11 institutions completed the survey (overall response rate 85%). The prevalence of burnout was 13% among fellows and 16% among faculty. Demographic (age, gender, year of training, faculty rank, marital status) and program factors (fellowship size, faculty size, current block/rotation, vacation or weekend off timing) were not significantly associated with burnout. Faculty and fellows with burnout reported significantly lower quality of life (5.3 vs. 7.9, p < 0.05), higher perceived stress (2.4 vs. 1.4, p < 0.05) and lower satisfaction with career choice (66 vs. 22%) and work life balance (28 vs. 0%), compared to those without burnout (p < 0.05 for all). Other important factors positively associated with burnout included lower institutional support for wellness programs and lower satisfaction with both colleague and faculty support. Larger studies are needed to explore if burnout is truly less prevalent among pediatric nephrology fellows and faculty compared to pediatric residents and graduate physicians. A larger sample size is also necessary to determine whether any interactions exist between the faculty and trainee roles in the developments of burnout. Future studies should also explore how to promote well-being through addressing key factors such as overall learning/working environment, stress reduction, and building personal resilience.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2022.849370/fullworkforceburnoutpediatric nephrologyfellowfaculty
spellingShingle Susan M. Halbach
Susan M. Halbach
Kartik Pillutla
Patricia Seo-Mayer
Alan Schwartz
Alan Schwartz
Darcy Weidemann
Darcy Weidemann
John D. Mahan
Burnout in Pediatric Nephrology Fellows and Faculty: Lessons From the Sustainable Pediatric Nephrology Workforce Project (SUPERPOWER)
Frontiers in Pediatrics
workforce
burnout
pediatric nephrology
fellow
faculty
title Burnout in Pediatric Nephrology Fellows and Faculty: Lessons From the Sustainable Pediatric Nephrology Workforce Project (SUPERPOWER)
title_full Burnout in Pediatric Nephrology Fellows and Faculty: Lessons From the Sustainable Pediatric Nephrology Workforce Project (SUPERPOWER)
title_fullStr Burnout in Pediatric Nephrology Fellows and Faculty: Lessons From the Sustainable Pediatric Nephrology Workforce Project (SUPERPOWER)
title_full_unstemmed Burnout in Pediatric Nephrology Fellows and Faculty: Lessons From the Sustainable Pediatric Nephrology Workforce Project (SUPERPOWER)
title_short Burnout in Pediatric Nephrology Fellows and Faculty: Lessons From the Sustainable Pediatric Nephrology Workforce Project (SUPERPOWER)
title_sort burnout in pediatric nephrology fellows and faculty lessons from the sustainable pediatric nephrology workforce project superpower
topic workforce
burnout
pediatric nephrology
fellow
faculty
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2022.849370/full
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