Predictors Between the Subcomponents of Burnout Among Radiology Trainees

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of various predictors on burnout among radiology residents during their training.

In this cross-sectional analysis, we distributed the Maslach Burnout Index for Medical Personnel (MBI-HSS [MP]) to eligible United States (US) radiology residents. Covariates of interest included age, child status, debt burden, partner status, and self-identified gender. Primary outcomes include MBI-HSS (MP) subcomponent scores - emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and personal accomplishment (PA). Mann-Whitney tests were used to compare averages between groups.

Out of the 770 of 2823 residents (27.3%) who responded, 488 of 770 completed the MBI-HSS (MP). During the R1 year, male sex was associated with marginally higher PA scores (36.5 versus 33.5; P = .029). Having children or a partner was associated with lower EE scores (18.7 versus 26.8, P = .012; 22 versus 28.9, P = .022, respectively) and higher PA scores (37 vs 32.7, P = .024; 35 versus 31.3, P = .039, respectively) among the R3 cohort. Reporting debt < $200,000 was associated with lower EE scores among the R3 (21.2 versus 27.3, P = .028) and R4 (16.4 versus 21.9, P = .033) cohort.

There are several predictors of burnout that transiently impact residents at different years of training and primarily impact EE or PA, but not DP scores. R3 residents' scores are most sensitive to these covariates.