Human factors in surgical practice: A national study

In the surgical setting, stress, burnout and non-technical skills are increasingly recognized as factors influencing quality of care, workplace well-being and economic costs. However, these issues have been scarcely studied among general and digestive surgery in Spain. This study aims to assess burnout, stress and non-cognitive aspects in this specific professional group in Spain.

A 28-item survey was designed to evaluate different dimensions of burnout and non-cognitive factors. Participation was voluntary and it was distributed through the Spanish association of surgeons (Asociación Española de Cirugía).

A total of 325 surgeons completed the survey. Women accounted for 57.5% of respondents and 95.1% worked in public hospitals. Up to 21.8% habitually experienced anxiety in daily situations, and 63% indicated a lack of training in these areas. Moreover, 22.8% acknowledged seeking professional assistance for related issues occasionally or frequently. Nearly 48% reported regularly exceeding their standard working hours, 69% experienced difficulties in achieving work-life balance, and a marked perception of insufficient institutional support was noted. These issues were significantly more prevalent among women and younger surgeons.

The prevalence of anxiety, burnout, work-life balance difficulties and perceived lack of institutional support is high among general and digestive surgeons. These findings underscore the need to develop targeted strategies addressing these factors within the specialty.