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Burnout among paediatric surgeons: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Sebastian Kirdar-Smith1, Ricardo Twumasi2, Charlotte Capon3
1Guy's, King's and St Thomas' School of Medical Education, King's College London, London, UK sebastian.kirdar-smith@kcl.ac.uk.
BMJ Paediatrics Open
|December 21, 2025
Summary
Nearly one in three paediatric surgeons experience burnout, with a pooled prevalence of 29.4%. This rate is lower than in other surgical fields, suggesting protective factors like rewarding work and supportive practices. Further interventions are recommended for physician well-being.
Area of Science:
- Medical Research
- Surgical Specialties
- Physician Welfare
Background:
- Burnout is a significant concern impacting physician well-being and patient care.
- Surgeons report higher burnout rates; however, burnout in paediatric surgeons remains under-researched.
- This study addresses the gap by systematically reviewing burnout prevalence in paediatric surgeons.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the pooled prevalence of burnout among paediatric surgeons.
- To identify and analyze factors influencing burnout in this population.
- To provide evidence for targeted interventions to improve paediatric surgeon well-being.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review and meta-analysis adhering to PRISMA and MOOSE guidelines.
- Inclusion of 15 studies reporting primary data on paediatric surgeon burnout using validated metrics.
- Random-effects meta-analysis to estimate pooled prevalence, with subgroup and meta-regression analyses.
Main Results:
- A pooled burnout prevalence of 29.4% (95% CI 20.3% to 40.5%) was found across 2757 paediatric surgeons.
- Burnout rates varied significantly (7.8% to 73.7%), with heterogeneity explained by study quality and measurement tools.
- Studies using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) reported lower burnout (22.4%) than non-MBI tools (44.9%).
Conclusions:
- Nearly one-third of paediatric surgeons experience burnout, a rate lower than in other surgical disciplines.
- Factors such as personal accomplishment, family-centered care, and multidisciplinary collaboration appear protective.
- Specialty-specific interventions and mentorship are crucial for sustaining paediatric surgeon well-being.
