Factors Influencing Professional Well-being in Orthopaedic Surgeons

Diminished physician well-being is a serious occupational hazard in orthopaedic surgery that results from burnout and low professional fulfillment. The authors surveyed 331 members of the American Orthopaedic Association and used the Professional Fulfillment Index (PFI) to determine presence of burnout and low professional fulfillment. Thirty-three percent (110/331) of respondents were burned out. Predictors of burnout included early career stage, work hours, and specialization in arthroplasty. Forty-four percent (185/331) of respondents were not professionally fulfilled. Predictors of low professional fulfillment included early career stage, work hours, specialization in foot/ankle, female gender, and not having children. No significant relationship between PFI well-being and self-reported medical errors was found. An orthopaedic surgeon's well-being is influenced by personal and career-related factors that may be used to guide interventions that minimize burnout and maximize professional fulfillment. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 33(4):247-253, 2024).