Burnout among emergency and surgery residents: An exploration of contributing factors and implications

To assess the prevalence of burnout among emergency and surgical residents and explore the associated factors.

This study was carried out at King Faisal University, Al Hofuf, Saudi Arabia, through the period from January to march 2024. A cross-sectional survey design was employed, utilizing the Maslach burnout inventory-human services survey and the resilience scale-14 to measure burnout and resilience. The survey included demographic information, health-related questions, and specific burnout-related items. Descriptive statistics, frequency distributions, and inferential analyses were carried out to explore the relationships between burnout, demographic factors, and resilience.

The study revealed a diverse representation across demographic factors, with variations in burnout prevalence. Approximately 63% of participants reported experiencing burnout, with high levels of emotional exhaustion (55%) and depersonalization (28%). Resilience levels varied across different demographic characteristics. Significant associations were found between burnout and factors such as gender, marital status, having children, specialty, length of experience, and enrollment in postgraduate programs.

The findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions to address burnout in healthcare professionals. The nuanced relationships between burnout, resilience, and demographic factors highlight the importance of tailored strategies to mitigate burnout effectively. Addressing burnout is crucial not only for the well-being of healthcare professionals but also for maintaining high-quality patient care.