Burnout and Its Correlates in Emergency Physicians: Four Years' Experience with a Wellness Booth

Abstract

Objective: To measure the degree of burnout among emergency physicians (EPs) and to identify and rank predictive factors. Methods: Using the Maslach Burnout Inventory as well as a 79-item questionnaire, a cross-sectional survey was conducted for physician registrants at the Annual Scientific Assemblies of the American College of Emergency Physicians from 1992 to 1995. Degrees of burnout were stratified into low, moderate, and high ranges. Univariate and stepwise multiple regression analyses were conducted to identify and rank correlates to burnout scores. Results: Of 1,272 registrants taking the inventory, 60% registered in the moderate to high burnout ranges. Twenty-one correlates were identified. These were classified broadly in terms of negative perceptions of self, negative practice habits and attitudes, and unhealthy lifestyles. The most highly ranked correlates were: selfrecognition of burnout, lack of job involvement, negative self-assessment of productivity, dissatisfaction with career, sleep disturbances, increased number of shifts per month, dissatisfaction with specialty services, intent to leave the practice within 10 years, higher levels of alcohol consumption, and lower levels of exercise. Age and years of practice were not significant predictors of burnout. Projected attrition rates were 7.5% over 5 years and 25% over 10 years. Conclusions: Elevated levels of burnout exist among a substantial percentage of surveyed EPs. However, there is evidence for a "survivor" category of practitioners for whom burnout either does not develop or is a reversible process. The projected attrition rate over 5 and 10 years appears to be no greater than that of the average medical specialty.

Assessment of the Relationship between Violence and Burnout among Physicians Working in Emergency Departments, Turkey

“…There have been few studies in the literature with similar results. [1,9,12,[20][21][22][23][24] Our results also indicated that there was a strong association between burnout and violence experienced by physicians working in emergency departments in our community. Violence-burnout relation in the literature has been referred to as anecdotal so far.…”

“…[6][7][8] An increased risk of experiencing burnout has previously been linked to a number of factors related to the working environment of the emergency physicians. [1,[9][10][11][12] Certain environmental factors also appear to affect the risk of violence, and these factors are important variables for burnout. [13][14][15] The problem of workplace violence and burnout in the EDs has not been well documented, researched, or managed.…”

Worklife and Satisfaction of Hospitalists: Toward Flourishing Careers

“…Autonomy alone appears lower in hospitalists (3.14 vs 3.27-3.50), possibly because of their often subordinate role with consultants. Hospitalist burnout rates were comparable to those of emergency medicine physicians and internist intensivists 8,9 , but lower than those for surgeons. 36 This study has several limitations.…”

“…Other sitebased specialties such as emergency and critical care medicine that share the fast-paced, high-workload, complex care of hospital patients have seen high levels of burnout, which influences job turnover and attrition. 8,9 The first and only large survey of hospitalist demographics and worklife occurred in 1999. 10 Since then, concerns about the sustainability of the specialty grew as reports of burnout, job turnover, and the demand for new hospitalists were common in the specialty newsletters.…”

Emergency medicine as a growing career in Iran: an Internet-based survey

“…In other countries, overcrowding, dealing with patients and families, inadequate administrative support, [17] a higher number of shifts, [18] insufficient personnel and heavy workloads, [19] income and financial matters, malpractice, [20] and familial conflict [21] were significant factors. [22] Besides these factors, the ED was seen as more prone to exhibitions of aggressive behavior, including threatening behavior and verbal and physical attacks.…”