Neurosurgery Resident Wellness and Recovery from Burnout: A 39-Year Single-Institution Experience

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Medical Education
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Physician burnout, particularly in neurosurgery residents, is a significant issue.
• While burnout stressors are known, effective recovery interventions remain understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize burnout patterns and identify recovery factors among neurosurgery residents over four decades.
• To provide insights for developing targeted wellness interventions in surgical training programs.

Main Methods:

• A 59-item questionnaire was administered to current and former residents of a neurosurgery training program.
• Respondents detailed burnout timelines, stressors, and recovery factors using Likert scales and free-text responses.

Main Results:

• The overall burnout rate was 30%, with recent trainees more affected.
• Postgraduate year 2 was the most common onset for burnout.
• Key stressors included work-life and duty imbalance; recovery factors included rotation completion, sleep, and collegial relationships.

Conclusions:

• Mentorship and camaraderie are crucial for resident burnout recovery.
• Identifying program-specific "critical periods" and interventions can improve resident well-being.