Burnout in Surgeons from a Tertiary Public University Hospital

Abstract

Surgeon burnout has been attracting worldwide attention. This study aimed to determine the prevalence rate for both Burnout Syndrome (BS) and burnout evidence and to identify burnout risk factors in surgeons from a high-complexity academic medical center, in Brazil. A dichotomized socio-demographic questionnaire and the MBI-HSS questionnaire were employed. Data collection was conducted on a personal computer REDCap program. The MBI-HSS Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used. The BS rate corresponded to the LPA Burnout class rate. The burnout evidence prevalence rate was equivalent to the sum of all five LPA classes, except for the Engagement one. The univariate Fisher's exact test was used for intra and inter class burnout risk factor investigation. A p value ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. Among the 77 surgeons analyzed, the BS prevalence rate was 6%. The burnout evidence prevalence rate was 31.1%. Almost half (41.6%) of the respondents could not be classed in any of the 5 LPA profiles. There were no significant differences between the surgeons presenting with burnout evidence and the engaged ones. No burnout risk factor could be detected, but less surgical workload (days/wk.) and full-time job regime both accentuated burnout levels in the personal accomplishment LPA dimension.