Longitudinal Resilience and Burnout in Radiology Residents

The aims of this study were to determine resilience levels of radiology residents at the start of radiology residency, investigate changes in resilience and burnout during residency, and assess the relationship between resilience and burnout among radiology residents.

Diagnostic radiology residents were invited to participate in online surveys from 2016 to 2019. Resilience was assessed using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. Burnout was assessed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey. For each data set, genders' scores were compared using either analysis of variance or Kruskal-Wallis tests. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to explore the correlations between resilience and burnout.

Women and men had no statistically significant difference among baseline resilience scores (P = .78). However, there was a statistically significant overall decrease in resilience scores among women (P = .002). Baseline Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey scores indicated that residents began residency without frequent symptoms of burnout. There was no statistically significant temporal change across subjects among burnout scores in any scale (P ≥ .09 for all) or between women and men (P ≥ .37 for all interactions). However, among women, there was a statistically significant difference in depersonalization scores during training (P = .009). Additionally, higher resilience scores were associated with a greater sense of personal achievement (r = .52) and less emotional exhaustion (r = -.56) and depersonalization (r = -.59).

The results of this study demonstrate that gender differences in resilience and burnout occur during radiology residency and that resilience has a protective effect against experiencing symptoms of burnout. Radiology residency programs should consider building longitudinal resilience for all trainees, especially women.