Open AccessBurnout Among Surgeons in the UK During the COVID‐19 Pandemic: A Cohort Study
Author(s) -
Houdmont Jonathan,
Daliya Prita,
Theophilidou Elena,
Adiamah Alfred,
Hassard Juliet,
Lobo Dileep N.,
Ahmed Jamil,
Babu Victor,
Baker Daryll,
Bartlett David,
Beckingham Ian,
Bhatti Imran,
Brooks Adam,
Brown Steven,
Burke Josh,
Byrne Hannah,
Chetter Ian,
Cook Hannah,
Coulston James,
Cruddas Lucinda,
Dias Richard,
Dor Frank,
Dube Mukul,
Grant Katherine,
Hammond John,
Hargest Rachel,
Joachim Theophilus,
Joseph Annie,
Kara Naveed,
Karavias Dimitrios,
Kotecha Sita,
Kushairi Anisa,
Lal Roshan,
Lam Kit,
Lasrado Irwin,
Lee Rachel,
Mann Gurminder,
Mannu George,
MaxwellArmstrong Charles,
McCaslin James,
McDermot Frank,
Miller Andrew,
Miller Sarah,
Morgan Jenna,
Nandhra Sandip,
Narayanasamy Sangara,
O'Brien Patrick,
Parry Laura,
Peters Kizzie,
Pitsika Marina,
Psaltis Emmanouil,
Sargen Kevin,
Sarmah Panchali,
Shyamsundar Murali,
Reddy Chinnappa,
Rollins Katie,
Roslan Farah,
Shalhoub Joseph,
Stanislas Matt,
Tan Benjamin,
Tewari Nilanjana,
Thomas Pradeep,
Thomas Tony,
Tiernan Jim,
Toogood Giles,
Trimble Karl,
Vauhan Peter,
Wheldon Luke,
White Steven,
White Tim,
Wijetunga Imeshi,
Wilson Michael,
Winterborn Rebecca,
Wyld Lynda,
Young Lora
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
world journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.115
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1432-2323
pISSN - 0364-2313
DOI - 10.1007/s00268-021-06351-6
Subject(s) - burnout , emotional exhaustion , medicine , workforce , worry , specialty , depersonalization , computer assisted web interviewing , family medicine , cross sectional study , nursing , anxiety , clinical psychology , psychiatry , business , pathology , marketing , economics , economic growth
Background Surgeon burnout has implications for patient safety and workforce sustainability. The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence of burnout among surgeons in the UK during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Methods This cross‐sectional online survey was set in the UK National Health Service and involved 601 surgeons across the UK of all specialities and grades. Participants completed the Maslach Burnout Inventory and a bespoke questionnaire. Outcome measures included emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and low personal accomplishment, as measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory‐Human Services Survey (MBI‐HSS). Results A total of 142 surgeons reported having contracted COVID‐19. Burnout prevalence was particularly high in the emotional exhaustion (57%) and depersonalisation (50%) domains, while lower on the low personal accomplishment domain (15%). Burnout prevalence was unrelated to COVID‐19 status; however, the greater the perceived impact of COVID‐19 on work, the higher the prevalence of emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation. Degree of worry about contracting COVID‐19 oneself and degree of worry about family and friends contacting COVID‐19 was positively associated with prevalence on all three burnout domains. Across all three domains, burnout prevalence was exceptionally high in the Core Trainee 1–2 and Specialty Trainee 1–2 grades. Conclusions These findings highlight potential undesirable implications for patient safety arising from surgeon burnout. Moreover, there is a need for ongoing monitoring in addition to an enhanced focus on mental health self‐care in surgeon training and the provision of accessible and confidential support for practising surgeons.