Work Hours, Stress, and Burnout Among Resident Physicians

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Physician Well-being
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Burnout is a significant issue for resident physicians, impacting personal, professional, and systemic aspects of healthcare.
• Work hour restrictions have been implemented to enhance patient safety and reduce resident fatigue, yet their direct impact on burnout and well-being remains uncertain.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between work hours and burnout, stress, and self-perceived competency among residents in demanding specialties.
• To explore potential demographic and well-being factors that might moderate these associations.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was administered remotely from February to June 2024 to residents in high-burnout specialties (surgery, obstetrics-gynecology, family, internal, and emergency medicine) across the US.
• The study collected self-reported data on average weekly work hours, hours worked in the past week, burnout, stress, and Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) competency milestones.
• Statistical analyses were performed to assess associations, adjusting for demographic factors.

Main Results:

• No significant association was found between work hours (average or past week) and burnout.
• Increased work hours were positively associated with higher levels of stress.
• Longer work hours correlated with higher self-assessed ACGME competency milestones.

Conclusions:

• In resident physicians within high-burnout specialties, extended work hours are linked to increased stress and perceived competency, but not burnout.
• Work hours alone may not be the sole determinant of high burnout rates in residency.
• A comprehensive approach extending beyond work hour limitations is required to effectively support resident well-being during training.