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Extinguishing burnout: National analysis of predictors and effects of burnout in abdominal transplant surgery fellows
Author(s) -
Kassam AlFaraaz,
Cortez Alexander R.,
Winer Leah K.,
Conzen Kendra D.,
ElHinnawi Ashraf,
Jones Christopher M.,
Matsuoka Lea,
Watkins Anthony C.,
Collins Kelly M.,
Bhati Chandra,
Selzner Markus,
Sonnenday Christopher J.,
Englesbe Michael J.,
Diwan Tayyab S.,
Dick André A. S.,
Quillin Ralph C.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
american journal of transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.89
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1600-6143
pISSN - 1600-6135
DOI - 10.1111/ajt.16075
Subject(s) - burnout , medicine , workload , psychological intervention , family medicine , transplant surgery , nursing , surgery , clinical psychology , hepatology , computer science , operating system
Burnout among surgeons has been attributed to increased workload and decreased autonomy. Although prior studies have examined burnout among transplant surgeons, no studies have evaluated burnout in abdominal transplant surgery fellows. The objective of our study was to identify predictors of burnout and understand its impact on personal and patient care during fellowship. A survey was sent to all abdominal transplant surgery fellows in an American Society of Transplant Surgeons–accredited fellowship. The response rate was 59.2% (n = 77) and 22.7% (n = 17) of fellows met criteria for burnout. Fellows with lower grit scores were more likely to exhibit burnout compared with fellows with higher scores (3.6 vs 4.0, P = .026). Those with burnout were more likely to work >100 hours per week (58.8% vs 27.6%, P = .023), have severe work‐related stress (58.8% vs 22.4%, P = .010), consider quitting fellowship (94.1% vs 20.7%, P < .001), or make a medical error (35.3% vs 5.2%, P = .003). This national analysis of abdominal transplant fellows found that burnout rates are relatively low, but few fellows engage in self‐care. Personal and program‐related factors attribute to burnout and it has unacceptable effects on patient care. Transplant societies and fellowship programs should develop interventions to give fellows tools to prevent and combat burnout.