Perceived Burnout Among Burn Surgeons: Results From a Survey of American Burn Association Members

Burnout is a significant and increasingly recognized issue. They aimed to investigate burn surgeons'(BSurg) perceptions regarding burnout, contributing factors, and implications to better identity possible targeted interventions. A 42-question anonymous online survey was distributed by the ABA to BSurg members. Respondents included BSurgs in university or nonuniversity hospital settings. Experience of burnout was reported among 89.8% of university and 84.6% of nonuniversity hospital-affiliated respondents. After adjusting for confounders, university BSurgs exhibited a higher risk of perceived burnout compared with nonuniversity settings (aOR: 1.081, 95% CI: 0.237, 4.937). Women BSurgs were at 5 times higher risk of reporting burnout compared with men (aOR: 5.048, 95% CI: 0.488, 52.255). BSurgs aged 40 to 44 had twice the risk of reporting burnout as ≥50 (aOR: 1.985, 95% CI:0.018, 216.308). Practicing for 21 to 30 years had 12 times higher risk of reporting burnout than practicing >30 (aOR: 12.264, 95% CI: 0.611, 246.041). Those working <50 hr/wk reported burnout more frequently than those who work ≥80 hr/wk (aOR: 2.469, 95% CI: 0.80, 76.662). Overall reports of burnout were high amongst burn surgeon respondents. Those with 21 to 30 years of clinical practice were at significantly higher risk of reporting burnout despite believing that their colleagues' burnout was more frequent than their own. Interventions addressing perceived burnout in younger burn surgeons may be limited by lack of participation due to fear of repercussions from administration or peers. Future administration-led burnout initiatives should acknowledge the differences between burn surgeon groups and offer resources unique to the individual physician's needs for burnout prevention to be successful.