How Do Areas of Work Life Drive Burnout in Orthopaedic Attending Surgeons, Fellows, and Residents?

Concerning levels of burnout have been reported among orthopaedic surgeons and residents. Defined as emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, physician burnout is associated with decreased productivity, increased medical errors, and increased risk of suicidal ideation. At the center of burnout research, person-centered approaches focusing on individual characteristics and coping strategies have largely been ineffective in solving this critical issue. They have failed to capture and address important institutional and organizational factors contributing to physician burnout. Similarly, little is known about the relationship between burnout and the working environments in which orthopaedic physicians practice, and on how orthopaedic surgeons at different career stages experience and perceive factors relevant to burnout.