Prevalence of burnout syndrome during the COVID-19 pandemic and associated factors

Best Practices: Burnout Is More Than Binary

Burnout among radiologists is increasingly prevalent, with the potential for having a substantial negative impact on physician well-being, delivery of care, and health outcomes. To evaluate this phenomenon using reliable and accurate means, validated quantitative instruments are essential. Variation in measurement can contribute to wide-ranging findings. This article evaluates radiologist burnout rates globally and dimensions of burnout as reported using different validated instruments; it also provides guidance on best practices to characterize burnout. Fifty-seven studies published between 1990 and 2023 were included in a systematic review, and 43 studies were included in a meta-analysis of burnout prevalence using random-effects models. The reported burnout prevalence ranged from 5% to 85%. With the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), burnout prevalence varied significantly depending on the instrument version used. Among MBI subcategories, the pooled prevalence of emotional exhaustion was 54% (95% CI, 45-63%), depersonalization was 52% (95% CI, 41-63%), and low personal accomplishment was 36% (95% CI, 27-47%). Other validated burnout instruments showed less heterogeneous results; studies using the Stanford Professional Fulfillment Index yielded a burnout prevalence of 39% (95% CI, 34-45%), whereas the validated single-item instrument yielded a burnout prevalence of 34% (95% CI, 29-39%). Standardized instruments for assessing prevalence alongside multidimensional profiles capturing experiences may better characterize radiologist burnout, including change occurring over time.

A Meta-analysis of Burnout in Radiology Trainees and Radiologists: Insights From the Maslach Burnout Inventory

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

Burnout, stemming from chronic work stress, is a significant issue in the medical field, especially among radiologists. It leads to compromised patient care and reduced job satisfaction. Addressing burnout in radiology is essential for the well-being of radiologists and, in turn, for improving patient care. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and dimensions of burnout among radiology trainees (RTs) and practicing radiologists (PRs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted in accordance with established guidelines. The search encompassed PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase databases up to June 20, 2023. Eligible studies that assessed the rate of burnout syndrome and/or its subscales, including depersonalization (DP), emotional exhaustion (EE), and personal accomplishment (PA), among RTs and/or PRs using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), were included. Relevant data were extracted and analyzed using R and STATA.

RESULTS

Among the 22 included studies, the pooled rates of positive MBI subscales for RTs and PRs were as follows: 54.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 43.8%-65.1%, I2 = 95.2%) for DP, 57.2% (95% CI: 48.7%-65.4%, I2 = 92.9%) for EE, and 38.6% (95% CI: 27%-51.7%, I2 = 95.5%) for low PA. The pooled rate indicating the presence of at least one positive MBI subscale was 82.9% (95% CI: 79.2%-86.1%, I2 = 57.4%). For two or more positive MBI subscales, the pooled rate was 55.5% (95% CI: 49.7%-61.3%, I2 = 60.2%), and for three positive MBI subscales, it was 16.7% (95% CI: 11.7%-23.3%, I2 = 82.7%).

CONCLUSION

This study emphasizes a notable prevalence of burnout in the radiology specialty, with 8 of 10 individuals exhibiting positive results in at least one MBI subscale. This highlights the urgent need for interventions and support systems to protect the well-being of both trainees and practitioners and uphold the quality of patient care.

Incidence and factors associated with burnout in radiologists: A systematic review

Rationale and objectives

Burnout among physicians has a prevalence rate exceeding 50%. The radiology department is not immune to the burnout epidemic. Understanding and addressing burnout among radiologists has been a subject of recent interest. Thus, our study aims to systematically review studies reporting the prevalence of burnout in physicians in the radiology department while providing an overview of the factors associated with burnout among radiologists.

Materials and methods

The search was conducted from inception until November 13th, 2022, in PubMed, Embase, Education Resources Information Center, PsycINFO, and psycArticles. Studies reporting the prevalence of burnout or any subdimensions among radiology physicians, including residents, fellows, consultants, and attendings, were included. Data on study characteristics and estimates of burnout syndrome or any of its subdimensions were collected and summarized.

Results

After screening 6379 studies, 23 studies from seven countries were eligible. The number of participants ranged from 26 to 460 (median, 162; interquartile range, 91-264). In all, 18 studies (78.3%) employed a form of the Maslach Burnout Inventory. In comparison, four studies (17.4%) used the Stanford Professional Fulfillment Index, and one study (4.3%) used a single-item measure derived from the Zero Burnout Program survey. Overall burnout prevalence estimates were reported by 14 studies (60.9%) and varied from 33% to 88%. High burnout prevalence estimates were reported by only five studies (21.7%) and ranged from 5% to 62%. Emotional exhaustion and depersonalization prevalence estimates were reported by 16 studies (69.6%) and ranged from 11%-100% and 4%-97%, respectively. Furthermore, 15 studies (65.2%) reported low personal accomplishment prevalence, ranging from 14.7% to 84%. There were at least seven definitions for overall burnout and high burnout among the included studies, and there was high heterogeneity among the cutoff scores used for the burnout subdimensions.

Conclusion

Burnout in radiology is increasing globally, with prevalence estimates reaching 88% and 62% for overall and high burnout, respectively. A myriad of factors has been identified as contributing to the increased prevalence. Our data demonstrated significant variability in burnout prevalence estimates among radiologists and major disparities in burnout criteria, instrument tools, and study quality.

Prevalence of burnout and practice-related risk factors among Saudi Board dental residents using the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory: A survey-based cross-sectional study

Occupational burnout is a chronic psychological problem affecting professionals. The aim of this study was to assess the types and categories of burnout among Saudi Dental board residents at different levels of residency in different provinces of Saudi Arabia, using the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory. Questionnaires were sent to 170 Saudi Dental board residents via Email and WhatsApp. at various training centers in Saudi Arabia, in May 2022. A part of the questionnaire covered the socio-demographic characteristics of the participants such as gender, training level or center, number of working sessions or hours per week and day, dental speciality, and marital status. The second part consisted of the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory survey with 21 questions. Only 110 participants returned the answered questions. The overall significant type of burnout was present in 46.3% of the respondents while 53.7%, were for free or minimal burnout. Personal, work-related, and patient-related burnout recorded 62%/38%; 40% to 60%, and 60%:40% for free or minimal to significant burnout. The overall burnout types of values were equal in both gender as well as training levels with no significant differences and P-values ≤ .05. Burnout values were close to each other among the participants in different specialties, except for orthodontics residents which were the least. Analysis of variance, followed by chi-square tests showed a significant difference among participants in different specialties in type and categories of burnout with P-values between .002 to .029. Finally, the burnout value was higher among married participants. Overall burnout types were marginally similar between genders and training levels, while the significant was slightly higher in females, married, highest training level, restorative, and prosthodontic speciality participants.

[Burnout among Radiologists in Korea: Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Remedies]

Burnout among radiologists has recently emerged as an issue that poses a threat to patient safety. Burnout adversely effects the quality of patient care and may lead to health problems in physicians. Approximately 84% of board-certified radiologists working in large hospitals in Korea responded that they had experienced burnout at least once. To overcome this, the standardization of physicians' workloads, as well as improvements in the professional workflow are necessary to ensure a healthy lifestyle balance.