Toasted: Is burnout affecting otolaryngology trainee career decisions?

Burnout is prevalent in the medical field, including within Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery. To date, no study has focused on the impact burnout plays on the future career choices of otolaryngology residents and fellows. Additionally, this study aimed to assess how perceptions of burnout among subspecialty teaching faculty impacted trainees' future career choices.

An anonymous, cross-sectional survey was distributed nationally to program directors and coordinators of all ACGME-accredited Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery residency programs in the United States during the 2022 academic year, with a request to forward the survey to current residents and fellows.

A total of 82 trainees (72 resident physicians and 10 fellows) responded to the survey, with an estimated resident physician response rate of 4 %. 35 of the 72 residents (49 %) were planning to or were in the process of applying for a fellowship position. Burnout was cited as a factor in whether or not to pursue fellowship training for 41.3 % of respondents, and as a factor in whether or not to pursue academic medicine in 46.9 % of respondents. Witnessed or perceived burnout among faculty members also played a role in future career decisions for 61 % of respondents. Qualitative analysis revealed themes including negotiating current and future comfort/ burnout, seeking balance, and the influence of perceived burnout.

Personal burnout and observed burnout among faculty impacts career decision-making in a significant percentage of otolaryngology residents and fellows. Efforts to mitigate burnout are crucial to avoid determent of career choices within otolaryngology.