Burnout in orthopaedic surgeons: A systematic review

Area of Science:

• Occupational health
• Medical specialties
• Psychological well-being

Background:

• Occupational burnout, characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced accomplishment, negatively impacts physicians' lives and performance.
• Orthopaedic surgery is a demanding field, yet comprehensive reviews on burnout among its specialists are scarce.
• Understanding burnout in orthopaedic surgeons is crucial for addressing its effects on this medical group.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and summarize existing evidence on occupational burnout in orthopaedic surgeons.
• To identify the prevalence, risk factors, and protective factors associated with burnout in this population.
• To highlight gaps in the current research, particularly concerning patient outcomes and management strategies.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature review was conducted using terms related to "orthopaedic surgeons" and "burnout."
• Inclusion criteria specified peer-reviewed original research articles directly measuring burnout with validated scales in orthopaedic surgeons.
• Fourteen studies were selected from 216 identified papers for qualitative synthesis after review by two independent researchers.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of burnout among orthopaedic surgeons varied significantly based on geographic center and professional seniority.
• Evidence is insufficient to conclude that burnout rates differ between orthopaedic surgeons and other medical specialists.
• Identified determinants of burnout mirrored those in the general medical population, encompassing personal, family, work environment, and career-related factors.

Conclusions:

• Current evidence on burnout in orthopaedic surgeons is preliminary, with noted methodological limitations in existing studies.
• Further large-scale, prospective research is needed to fully understand the determinants and consequences of burnout in this specialty.
• Investigating the impact of burnout on orthopaedic patient outcomes and exploring effective management interventions are critical future research directions.