Work Systems Factors Associated With Burnout in Sonographers Working in the United States and Canada

Burnout in sonographers is a prevalent and complex professional hazard associated with poorer quality of work life, productivity, and patient outcomes. This study aimed to understand the prevalence of and work systems factors associated with burnout among a large sample of sonographers.

Research study registry participants (n=3659) were invited to complete a follow-up survey about personal and work environment factors, including work hours, break time, coworker and supervisor support, and job satisfaction, overall health, and sleep quality. The Copenhagen Burnout Inventory assessed personal, work-related, and client burnout. Simple and multiple linear regressions were used to identify work systems factors associated with burnout.

Of 1389 respondents, over half reported moderate-to-severe personal and work-related burnout, while one-quarter reported moderate-to-severe client burnout. Higher work-related burnout was associated with younger age, working in the Western U.S., working full-time work, taking fewer weekly break hours, poorer overall health and sleep quality, and lower supervisor support and job satisfaction. Client burnout was associated with poorer sleep quality and lower job satisfaction.

Burnout was prevalent in a large sample of sonographers. Multilevel work systems factors are associated with burnout, suggesting collaboration among sonographers, administrators, and organizations is needed to address burnout.