Career-stage patterns in burnout and intention to leave the current hospital among obstetric physicians

To examine associations between personal burnout symptoms and the intention to leave the current hospital across different career stages among physicians in obstetric care in Germany. In addition, we compared burnout levels among surveyed obstetricians relative to the general physician and the German working population.

In this nationwide, cross-sectional study, physicians from all 595 obstetric departments in Germany were invited to complete an anonymous, standardized survey. We assessed burnout, intentions to leave the workplace within the next 5 years, career stage, age, gender, and employment status. Comparative data on burnout were obtained from a national database on mental stress in the workplace. Data were analyzed visually using Sankey plots and Firth-corrected multivariable logistic regression.

A total of 872 obstetricians responded. Overall, 380 physicians (50.9%) reported intention to leave the current hospital within the next 5 years. Moderate personal burnout was reported by 332 physicians (40.2%), while 168 (20.4%) reported high or severe burnout. Average burnout levels among surveyed obstetricians (mean: 50.6) were comparable to those of other physicians (mean: 51.4) and the general working population (mean: 49.9) in Germany. Intentions to leave were most frequent among residents (176, 74.2%), followed by specialists (46, 57.5%). Regression analyses showed that higher burnout scores were significantly associated with intention to leave the current hospital (OR = 1.03, 95%-CI: 1.02, 1.04, p < 0.001), particularly among physicians in earlier career stages. With each one-point increase in burnout scores, odds of intending to leave increased by 3.3% for residents (95%-CI: 1.02, 1.05, p < 0.001), 3.2% for specialists (95%-CI: 1.01, 1.06, p = 0.005), and 3.2% for consultants without executive responsibilities (95%-CI: 1.02, 1.05, p < 0.001).

Personal burnout symptoms are significantly associated with the intention to leave the current hospital, particularly among early-career obstetricians. While career-stage-related mobility can partly explain turnover, burnout appears to be an independent determinant. Our findings highlight the importance of addressing burnout early in medical careers to support physician retention in obstetric care.