US anesthesiologists’ burnout rate, risk factors

Editor's Note

The prevalence of burnout in anesthesiologists is high, and workplace factors are a big influence, finds this study led by researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

Of 3,898 respondents to a survey of American Society of Anesthesiologists members:

• 59.2% had a high risk of burnout
• 13.8% had burnout syndrome (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and low sense of personal accomplishment).

Multivariate analysis found that lack of support at work and at home were most strongly associated with burnout syndrome; age was the only personal factor linked to burnout syndrome.

These findings can be used to identify anesthesiologists at risk for burnout and to design initiatives to reduce the risk of burnout and manage existing burnout, the researchers say.