Burnout: A Call to Action From the AUA Workforce Workgroup.

Area of Science:

• Medical Professionalism
• Occupational Health
• Urology

Background:

• Physician burnout is a significant concern impacting healthcare quality and workforce sustainability.
• Previous studies indicated high rates of burnout among urologists, necessitating ongoing monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate trends in burnout among urologists from 2016 to 2021.
• To identify demographic disparities in burnout rates and work-life balance.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from the annual American Urological Association (AUA) Census over five years.
• Examination of burnout-related responses, including gender, age, and work-life conflict.

Main Results:

• Urologist burnout increased to 36.7% in 2021 from 36.2% in 2016.
• Burnout rose significantly in women (35.3% to 49.2%) and physicians under 45 (37.9% to 44.8%).
• Work-life balance issues and dissatisfaction were more prevalent in women.

Conclusions:

• Overall urologist burnout has increased, with a notable widening of the gender gap.
• Younger urologists (<45) experienced the largest increase in burnout.
• Further research is required to understand and address the root causes of escalating burnout and gender disparities.