Gender Differences in Burnout Among Endocrinologists in China

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Occupational Health
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Burnout is a significant concern in healthcare professions globally.
• Understanding the prevalence and correlates of burnout among endocrinologists is crucial for targeted support.
• Previous research has highlighted gender-specific factors in physician burnout.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of burnout in a national sample of Chinese endocrinologists.
• To investigate factors associated with burnout, focusing on gender differences.
• To inform the development of gender-specific interventions for physician well-being.

Main Methods:

• An anonymous online survey was administered to endocrinologists across 31 provincial hospitals in China.
• The Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) assessed emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and reduced personal accomplishment (PA).
• Demographic and work-related factors were collected, and multi-level linear regression analyzed associations.

Main Results:

• Burnout was reported by 32.8% of the 711 endocrinologists surveyed.
• No significant gender differences were found in the overall prevalence of burnout or its components (EE, DP, PA).
• Factors associated with burnout components differed by gender: males showed associations with age and sleep duration, while females showed associations with sleep duration and work hours.

Conclusions:

• Nearly one-third of Chinese endocrinologists experience burnout.
• While overall burnout rates are similar between genders, the contributing factors vary.
• Interventions to address burnout in endocrinologists should be tailored to address gender-specific correlates.