The Impact of Work-Related Factors on Risk of Resident Burnout: A Global Neurosurgery Pilot Study

To examine the risk for burnout in neurosurgery trainees across the globe to compare work-related factors that may contribute to burnout and to determine if there are international differences.

A 16-question survey was designed and broadcasted through social media networks of global neurosurgeons. The first half of the survey examined work-related factors that may contribute to burnout. The second half studied the respondents' attitudes and emotional responses toward their training, patients, and work environment.

There were 797 responses to the survey from 93 countries, and 243 of those were from countries designated as low- to middle-income countries. Of respondents, 20.7% scored in the range designated at risk for burnout. Logistic regression analysis showed that frequency of on-call duty and total work hours were drivers for burnout in the global cohort, but operative caseload may have a protective effect. Intercontinental comparisons revealed that the United States and Canada had the lowest proportion of trainees at risk for burnout (11.2%), whereas Europe had the highest (26.9%). Trainees from low- to middle-income countries worked more hours and on-call shifts than their global colleagues, but their average total burnout score (15.8) and proportion at risk for burnout (20.7%) were identical by global comparison.

Risk for burnout in neurosurgery residents and fellows is driven by multiple factors, including personal, demographic, programmatic, and institutional. Among work-related factors, long and frequent shifts were found to contribute to the risk of burnout in the global cohort. The regional variabilities in the impact of these factors are discussed.