Investigation of Precepting-Related Burnout in Dietetics Preceptors

Dietetics preceptors are at risk of abandoning their role because of potential burnout. Identifying factors associated with greater and lesser burnout can help key stakeholders identify and implement strategies to prevent or mitigate burnout in dietetics preceptors.

The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with the burnout preceptors attribute specifically to the work of precepting.

This study used a cross-sectional study design. A survey instrument including burnout measures, precepting measures, and items querying personal and work characteristics was distributed via e-mail to a random sample of 10 000 credentialed nutrition and dietetics practitioners.

Respondents who lived in the United States, were currently practicing, and had precepted during the past year were included in the sample (n = 310). The survey was conducted in October and November of 2022.

Precepting-related burnout was measured using scores on the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory; scores ranged from 0 to 100 and higher numbers indicated greater burnout.

Factors associated with precepting-related burnout were identified using an analysis of covariance. Pairwise comparisons with Tukey adjustments were done to determine differences across categories for the categorical variable in the model (ie, percent of interns requiring additional coaching). A stepwise variable selection process was performed to determine the best analytic models.

Factors associated with lower precepting-related burnout in dietetics preceptors included higher Commitment to the Preceptor Role scores, lower percentages of interns requiring additional coaching, feeling appreciated by the dietetic interns, and higher Preceptors' Perceptions of Support scores. A factor associated with higher precepting-related burnout was precepting a greater number of dietetic interns in the past year. For every 1-point change in each variable, the degree of change in precepting-related burnout was -7.9 for Commitment to the Preceptor Role, -3.2 for feeling appreciated by dietetic interns, -4.5 for Preceptors' Perceptions of Support, and +1.2 for number of dietetic interns per year. The mean ± SE difference in precepting-related burnout scores between preceptors who reported < 10% of dietetic interns requiring additional coaching and those who reported > 50% of dietetic interns requiring additional coaching was -13.7 ± 3.7.

The factors found to be associated with precepting-related burnout scores in dietetics preceptors are potentially modifiable, suggesting this burnout might be prevented or mitigated to some degree.