Burnout Rates in Pediatric Emergency Medicine Physicians

Abstract

Objective Burnout is a syndrome in which a reduced sense of personal accomplishment, depersonalization, and emotional exhaustion develop in response to prolonged stress. It is well known that physicians suffer high rates of burnout; emergency medicine physicians experience significantly increased rates of burnout, whereas physicians in other specialties, like pediatrics, may be spared. Pediatric emergency medicine physicians are on the frontline of care for the critically ill child, which could put them at high risk for burnout. This study evaluates the rate of burnout in pediatric emergency medicine physicians. Methods We conducted a survey assessing burnout using a sample of pediatric emergency medicine physicians who subscribe to an open Listserv server maintained by Brown University. Burnout was measured using a validated instrument, the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey, which was distributed by e-mail to the study group. Results Respondents averaged a score of 9 (95% confidence interval [CI], 8–10), 23 (95% CI, 21–25), and 39 (95% CI, 38–40) in the subscales of depersonalization, emotional exhaustion, and personal accomplishment, respectively. This placed our cohort into the average range for all subscales. The percentage of respondents who scored in the high levels of burnout (moderate to high scores in both depersonalization and emotional exhaustion and low to moderate scores in personal accomplishment) was 25% (95% CI, 18–32). Conclusions Unlike previous literature showing burnout prevalence in excess of 60% in emergency medicine physicians and 38% in pediatricians, our pediatric emergency medicine physicians fared better with only 25% (95% CI, 18–32), showing elevated levels of burnout.

A Cross‐sectional Analysis of Compassion Fatigue, Burnout, and Compassion Satisfaction in Pediatric Emergency Medicine Physicians in the United States

“…The prevalence of BO in PEM physicians has been previously reported at 25% to 88.5% . The prevalence of BO in our study population falls just below the lower end of this range.…”

“…The prevalence of BO in our study population falls just below the lower end of this range. It has been suggested that physicians working in teaching hospitals or academic research centers experience less BO . The fact that 93% of our participants reported affiliation with an academic medical center may contribute to the lower prevalence is noted our study population.…”

2018 Academic Emergency Medicine Consensus Conference: A Workforce Development Research Agenda for Pediatric Care in the Emergency Department

“…The 2016 Survey of America's Physicians Practice Patterns and Perspectives found that regulatory/documentation burden, little influence in the direction of the health care system, and loss of clinical autonomy are pivotal . Burnout can lead to patient safety concerns including issues with professionalism, increased risk of medical error and patient/family rapport, and provider safety and wellness …”

“…Pediatric EM subspecialty providers are thought to be at high risk for burnout and compassion fatigue . Whereas the practice of pediatrics seems to be protective against burnout, EM continues to top the list of medical specialties at risk .…”

“…Given that most care provided to ill and injured children currently occurs by general emergency physicians, how these factors relate is unknown. Rates of reported burnout in PEM practitioners range from 25% to 80% . Interestingly, Leigh et al .…”