Vaisman A, Guiloff R, Contreras M, Casas-Cordero JP, Calvo R, Figueroa D. Over 50% of self-reported burnout among Latin American orthopaedic surgeons: A cross-sectional survey on prevalence and risk factors.
J ISAKOS 2024;
9:128-134. [PMID:
38036044 DOI:
10.1016/j.jisako.2023.11.008]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
Assess the prevalence of self-reported burnout and identify risk and protective factors based on demographic and life quality aspects, among Latin American orthopaedic surgeons.
METHODS
This study employed a cross-sectional analytical design. An original design survey was developed using multiple-choice and Likert-scale questions to gather self-reported burnout, demographic, work-related, social, personal, and mood-related data. The survey was electronically distributed to the Chilean Orthopaedic Surgery Society and the Latin American Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery, and Sports Medicine members. Statistical analysis included Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests to determine associations between self-reported burnout and other variables. Subsequently, a multivariate logistic regression was carried out to identify key risk and protective factors (p < 0.05).
RESULTS
The survey's response rate was 20 % (n = 358) out of the 1779 invitations that were sent. The most representative age range was 41-60 years (50 %) and 94 % were men. Of those surveyed, 50 % reported a burnout episode more than once per year, 60 % depersonalization when treating patients at least yearly, 13 % anhedonia, 11 % a depressive mood more than half of the month or almost every day, and 61 % weariness at the end of a working day. Burnout was statistically associated with age under 40 years old (p = 0.012), fewer years as a specialist (p = 0.037), fear of lawsuits (p < 0.001), a non-healthy diet (p = 0.003), non-doing recreational activities (p = 0.004), depersonalization when treating their patients (p < 0.001), weariness (p < 0.001), anhedonia (p < 0.001), depressive mood (p < 0.001), and career dissatisfaction (p < 0.001). The logistic regression demonstrated that fear of lawsuits (p < 0.001), weariness at the end of a workday (p = 0.016), and anhedonia (p = 0.019) were those variables with stronger direct associations with self-reported burnout. A healthy diet was the strongest protective variable (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSION
Over 50 % of the Latin American orthopaedic surgeons who participated in the survey reported experiencing burnout episodes more than once a year, along with depersonalization when treating their patients at least once a year. Additionally, nearly 10 % of respondents experienced weekly depressive symptoms. Among the noteworthy risk factors for self-reported burnout were fear of lawsuits, weariness at the end of the workday, and anhedonia. Conversely, maintaining a healthy diet emerged as the most potent protective factor.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
Level III.
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