S. Scarlet1, M. L. Williford1, C. Goettler3, J. Green2, T. Clancy5, A. Hildreth4, D. J. Luckett1, S. Meltzer-Brody1, M. O. Meyers1, T. M. Farrell1 1University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill,Chapel Hill, NC, USA 2Carolinas Medical Center,Charlotte, NC, USA 3East Carolina University Brody School Of Medicine,Greenville, NC, USA 4Wake Forest University School Of Medicine,Winston-Salem, NC, USA 5New Hanover Regional Medical Center,Wilmington, NC, USA
Introduction: General surgery trainees experience high rates of burnout syndrome. Burnout syndrome has many sequelae – it increases the risk that physicians will develop serious psychiatric conditions, provide low quality health care, and commit medical errors. Burnout is associated with attrition, which is notably high amongst general surgery trainees. Although many studies have focused on the prevalence of burnout, fewer have attempted to identify risk factors. In this study, we aimed to characterize the relationship between burnout and perceived social support amongst general surgery trainees.
Methods: All general surgery trainees at each of the six general surgery programs in the state (n=158) were invited to complete an anonymous survey used a web-based platform. The survey was conducted between November 2016 and March 2017. The survey contained the Maslach Burnout Inventory, which is used to identify burnout syndrome, and several questions regarding social support. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Comparisons between resident responses to questions were made using Fisher’s exact or chi-squared tests, wherever appropriate.
Results: Response rate was 58%. 75% of residents met criteria for burnout syndrome. 89% of residents agreed or strongly agreed that they had a person from whom they received support. There was no association between burnout and having a support person (p=0.672). 68% of residents agreed or strongly agreed that other residents were interested in what was going on in their lives. Perceived lack of co-resident interest in one’s life was associated with burnout syndrome – 60% of residents with burnout versus 94% of those without burnout believed that resident colleagues were interested in their lives (p=0.008). 32% of residents agreed or strongly agreed that their attendings were interested in what was going on their lives. Perceived lack of attending interest in one’s life was associated with burnout syndrome – 22% of residents with burnout versus 61% of those without burnout believed that attending colleagues were interested in their lives (p=0.004). 33% of residents agreed or strongly agreed that there were sufficient sources for addressing burnout at their institutions. Perceived institutional support was not associated with presence of burnout syndrome (p=0.574).
Conclusion: Given its high prevalence and significant implications on patient care and provider health and well-being, interventions that prevent and treat burnout syndrome are necessary. In this study, the majority of residents felt that resources at their institutions for addressing burnout were insufficient. Residents experiencing burnout syndrome were less likely to feel that their resident colleagues and attendings were interested in their lives. These data suggest that fostering a culture of peer and attending support within residency training programs may decrease the likelihood that trainees experience burnout.