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Burnout among Lithuanian cardiac surgeons and cardiac anesthesiologists
Audrius Mikalauskas1, Edmundas Širvinskas, Irena Marchertienė
1Department of Anesthesiology, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Lithuania.
Insights
Burnout is common in Lithuanian cardiac surgeons and anesthesiologists, affecting over 60%. Long work hours and smoking are linked to higher burnout rates, necessitating targeted interventions.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Anesthesiology
- Occupational Health
Background:
- Burnout is a significant issue in high-stress medical professions.
- Understanding burnout prevalence and risk factors in cardiac surgery is crucial for physician well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of burnout among Lithuanian cardiac surgeons and cardiac anesthesiologists.
- To identify associations between burnout and physician personal/professional characteristics.
Main Methods:
- Anonymous questionnaire survey of 29 cardiac surgeons and 30 cardiac anesthesiologists.
- Data collected on demographics, work hours, career satisfaction, depression symptoms, and burnout using the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS).
Main Results:
- 62% of physicians reported burnout.
- High emotional exhaustion (19.3%), depersonalization (25.9%), and low personal accomplishment (42.3%) were observed.
- Working >40 hours/week, smoking, and desperation were associated with increased burnout.
Conclusions:
- Burnout is prevalent in Lithuanian cardiac surgeons and anesthesiologists.
- Specific personal and professional factors are significantly related to burnout.
- Development of burnout relief strategies is recommended to mitigate this occupational hazard.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of burnout among Lithuanian cardiac surgeons and cardiac anesthesiologists, and associations between burnout and the personal and professional characteristics of physicians.
Material And Methods:
A total of 29 cardiac surgeons and 30 cardiac anesthesiologists employed in Vilnius and Kaunas university hospitals as well as in Klaipėda Hospital were surveyed. Data on personal characteristics (age, gender, marital status, number of children, sleeping hours, and addictions), professional characteristics (years in practice, work character, work profile, and workload), career satisfaction, and symptoms of depression were collected by using an anonymous questionnaire. Burnout was measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS).
Results:
More than half (54.3%) of the physicians surveyed had been in practice for >15 years, 71.2% reported working more than 40 hours per week, and 62% reported of being burned out. As much as 19.3% of physicians reported high emotional exhaustion, 25.9% had high depersonalization, and 42.3% demonstrated low personal accomplishment at work. Nearly 95% of respondents would become a physician and 82.8% would choose to become a cardiac surgeon or a cardiac anesthesiologist again. Physicians who worked more than 40 hours per week, smokers, and those who were desperate were more likely to be burned out.
Conclusions:
Burnout was found to be prevalent among Lithuanian cardiac surgeons and cardiac anesthesiologists. Some personal and professional characteristics were significantly related to burnout. Burnout relief measures should be developed in order to prevent a further increase of burnout syndrome among Lithuanian cardiac surgeons and cardiac anesthesiologists.
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