Plastic Surgeonsʼ Satisfaction with Work–Life Balance: Results from a National Survey :

Burnout is a syndrome of depersonalization, emotional exhaustion, and a sense of low personal accomplishment. Little is known about burnout in residents or its relationship to patient care. To determine the prevalence of burnout in medical residents and explore its relationship to self-reported patient care practices. Cross-sectional study using an anonymous, mailed survey. University-based residency program in Seattle, Washington. 115 internal medicine residents. Burnout was measured by using the Maslach Burnout Inventory and was defined as scores in the high range for medical professionals on the depersonalization or emotional exhaustion subscales. Five questions developed for this study assessed self-reported patient care practices that suggested suboptimal care (for example, "I did not fully discuss treatment options or answer a patient's questions" or "I made...errors that were not due to a lack of knowledge or inexperience"). Depression and at-risk alcohol use were assessed by using validated screening questionnaires. Of 115 (76%) responding residents, 87 (76%) met the criteria for burnout. Compared with non-burned-out residents, burned-out residents were significantly more likely to self-report providing at least one type of suboptimal patient care at least monthly (53% vs. 21%; P = 0.004). In multivariate analyses, burnout--but not sex, depression, or at-risk alcohol use--was strongly associated with self-report of one or more suboptimal patient care practices at least monthly (odds ratio, 8.3 [95% CI, 2.6 to 26.5]). When each domain of burnout was evaluated separately, only a high score for depersonalization was associated with self-reported suboptimal patient care practices (in a dose-response relationship). Burnout was common among resident physicians and was associated with self-reported suboptimal patient care practices.

Medical errors are associated with feelings of distress in physicians, but little is known about the magnitude and direction of these associations. To assess the frequency of self-perceived medical errors among resident physicians and to determine the association of self-perceived medical errors with resident quality of life, burnout, depression, and empathy using validated metrics. Prospective longitudinal cohort study of categorical and preliminary internal medicine residents at Mayo Clinic Rochester. Data were provided by 184 (84%) of 219 eligible residents. Participants began training in the 2003-2004, 2004-2005, and 2005-2006 academic years and completed surveys quarterly through May 2006. Surveys included self-assessment of medical errors and linear analog scale assessment of quality of life every 3 months, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (depersonalization, emotional exhaustion, and personal accomplishment), Interpersonal Reactivity Index, and a validated depression screening tool every 6 months. Frequency of self-perceived medical errors was recorded. Associations of an error with quality of life, burnout, empathy, and symptoms of depression were determined using generalized estimating equations for repeated measures. Thirty-four percent of participants reported making at least 1 major medical error during the study period. Making a medical error in the previous 3 months was reported by a mean of 14.7% of participants at each quarter. Self-perceived medical errors were associated with a subsequent decrease in quality of life (P = .02) and worsened measures in all domains of burnout (P = .002 for each). Self-perceived errors were associated with an odds ratio of screening positive for depression at the subsequent time point of 3.29 (95% confidence interval, 1.90-5.64). In addition, increased burnout in all domains and reduced empathy were associated with increased odds of self-perceived error in the following 3 months (P=.001, P<.001, and P=.02 for depersonalization, emotional exhaustion, and lower personal accomplishment, respectively; P=.02 and P=.01 for emotive and cognitive empathy, respectively). Self-perceived medical errors are common among internal medicine residents and are associated with substantial subsequent personal distress. Personal distress and decreased empathy are also associated with increased odds of future self-perceived errors, suggesting that perceived errors and distress may be related in a reciprocal cycle.

We know from numerous industrial studies that stress, particularly in the form of tiredness and sleep deprivation, has a detrimental effect upon work performance, though this is not so clear-cut in studies of doctors, despite their stress levels being particularly high. This study explores the doctors' views on this using anonymous questionnaires from a population of 225 hospital doctors and general practitioners, 82 of whom reported recent incidents where they considered that symptoms of stress had negatively affected their patient care. The qualitative accounts they gave were coded for the attribution (type of stress symptom) made, and the effect it had. Half of these effects concerned lowered standards of care; 40% were the expression of irritability or anger; 7% were serious mistakes which still avoided directly leading to death; and two resulted in patient death. The attributions given for these were largely to do with tiredness (57%) and the pressure of overwork (28%), followed by depression or anxiety (8%), and the effects of alcohol (5%). The data are discussed in terms of the links made by the doctors between their fatigue or work pressure and the way they care for patients. It presumes that these incidents had been previously unreported and talks about the effects this secrecy has on the emotional state of the doctors concerned. It offers ways forward for tackling the problem, of interest to the profession, managers and commissioners.