Health and wellbeing of second-degree students pursuing oral and maxillofacial surgery

Second-degree students pursuing oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) may be at particular risk of burnout when striving to find a balance between a full-time degree, locum work, and developing portfolios for specialist training applications. The current study aimed to explore self-reported burnout and identify risk factors for burnout amongst second-degree students considering a career in OMFS. An online survey was distributed via social media to second-degree students across the United Kingdom and 122 responses were received. A majority of students felt they had suffered from burnout during their second degree (n = 74, 60.7%). Burnout was more likely to be reported by students enrolled on a four-year dental degree (p = 0.016, OR 6.291, 95% CI: 1.402 to 28.235), by female students (p = 0.006, OR 5.791, 95% CI: 1.659 to 20.219), and those aged 28-30 (p = 0.032, OR 5.818, 95% CI: 1.165 to 29.054) or between 34 and 36 years (p = 0.008, OR 14.882, 95% CI 1.998 to 110.826). Students doing zero night shifts per month were significantly less likely to suffer from burnout compared with those doing more than six night shifts per month (p = 0.016, OR: 0.034, 95% CI: 0.002 to 0.537) or more than six day shifts per month (p = 0.028, OR: 15.272, 95% CI: 1.335 to 174.732). It may be possible to reduce the risk of burnout amongst second-degree students and enhance their wellbeing by improving financial and clinical development incentives as part of regular locum work opportunities, by providing access to tailored OMFS mentorship, and by streamlining training.