Poster1-04: PREVENTING BURNOUT IN SURGICAL RESIDENTS: WHERE DO WE INTERVENE?
Amani Jambhekar, MD1, Ziyad Nasrawi, MD2, Michael Zenilman, MD, FACS2, James Rucinski, MD, FACS, FACEP2; 1Breast Surgery Division, Columbia University Medical Center, 2New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital
Objective: Several studies have examined burnout and identified surgical residents as one of the highest risks for burnout compared to other specialties. The objective of this study is to develop a screening tool to evaluate burnout risk, and identify subcategories requiring intervention.
Methods: The Surgery Burnout Survey survey was given to residents in postgraduate (PGY) years one through five at a university affiliated program (n=40) with questions on emotional health, physical health, work-life balance, and interpersonal relationships. Statistical analysis was conducted using ANOVA and Student’s t-test. Data is expressed as mean +/- standard deviation.
Results: The study cohort was divided into groups based on gender, PGY level, and specialty. Physical health scores differed significantly (lowest in PGY2 at 8.6 +/- 1.9, highest in PGY5 at 14.0 +/- 1.0, p=0.01). Stratified across specialty and gender, physical health scores were not significantly different (p = 0.19, p = 0.08 respectively). 92.5% of residents agreed with not having enough time to exercise. General surgery residents had the highest emotional health burnout scores (p = 0.03), podiatry residents had the lowest interpersonal relationship burnout scores (p = 0.03). Male residents across specialties also had significantly higher emotional health burnout scores (32.2 +/- 4.7 vs. 28.7 +/- 4.6; p = 0.03).
Conclusion: The Surgery Burnout Survey successfully identified a need for targeted interventions in the area of physical health which are being planned as the next phase of the study. Additionally, emotional health was identified as an area of concern for general surgery residents and male residents across specialties. Developing a screening tool with subcategories targeted to surgical residents will allow the planning of specific interventions to combat burnout.