Exploration of the Relationship Between the Subcomponents of Burnout Throughout Radiology Training

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the subcomponents of burnout and year of training among radiology residents.

In this cross-sectional analysis, the Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey for Medical Personnel (MBI-HSS [MP]) was distributed to eligible United States (US) radiology residents. Primary outcomes included the MBI-HSS (MP) subcomponents: emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and personal accomplishment (PA). Multivariate analysis of variance, tests of between-subjects effects, and Tukey post hoc analysis with 95% confidence interval were conducted.

A total of 770 of 2,823 residents (27.3%) responded, with 488 of 770 completing the MBI-HSS (MP). There was a statistically significant difference in subcomponent scores between cohorts based on year of training (P < .005) and a statistically significant effect between year of training and EE (P < .05) and DP (P < .005), but not PA. Third-year (R3) residents reported a higher frequency of EE than first-year (R1) residents and a higher frequency of DP than R1 and second-year (R2) residents. Fourth-year (R4) residents reported more DP than R1 residents.

This analysis shows variation in burnout subcomponents during training, with the highest recorded EE and DP means and lowest recorded PA means among R3 residents. Although these findings demonstrate evidence of burnout among radiology residents, mean subcomponent scores for EE (21.3) and DP (8.4) were lower and for PA (35.1) was higher for all trainees than in previous studies assessing radiology residents, which correlates with less burnout. DP was the only subcomponent that remained statistically elevated between matriculating R1 and graduating R4 residents.