How are French pediatric orthopedic surgeons affected by burnout? Results of a nationwide survey

Abstract

IntroductionBurnout is a syndrome that adversely affects those who work in roles designed to assist and aid others, such as healthcare professionals. There is a paucity of data available on this topic among French pediatric orthopedic surgeons, registrars and interns. Therefore, we conducted a national survey to: (1) assess the prevalence of burnout syndrome among French pediatric orthopedic surgeons; (2) determine the risks and protective factors associated with this syndrome. HypothesisThe prevalence of burnout among French pediatric orthopedic surgeons is at least as high as in other medical and surgical specialties. Materials and methodsWe conducted a nationwide survey during the months of June and July 2022 by distributing a digitized questionnaire by e-mail. The burnout syndrome was assessed by the MBI (Maslach Burnout Inventory) score. Demographic and professional practice data were also collected. ResultsThirty-eight interns and 65 pediatric orthopedic registrars took part in the survey, i.e. a participation rate estimated at 65.5% and 44.4% respectively. Twenty-six percent (n=10) of interns and 13.9% (n=9) of registrars had MBI scores suggestive of moderate or severe burnout. Respectively 20.8% (n=9) and 9.2% (n=6) of interns and registrars reported suicidal thoughts in the past year. After statistical analysis, medical errors (OR: 3.4336; 95% CI: 1.7164–6.869; p<0.001) and suicidal ideation (OR: 2.3075; 95% CI: 1.0480–5.081; p=0.038) were associated with severe burnout. Having children (OR: 0.495; 95% CI: 0.2491–0.983; p=0.044) emerged as a protective factor. DiscussionWith a high participation rate, this study reveals a high burnout rate among French pediatric orthopedic interns and registrars, even if slightly lower than those found in other surgical specialties. Interns seem more exposed to this risk than their seniors. The consequences of burnout are diverse but can be significant. These results necessitate a vigilant approach to the occurrence of burnout among health professionals, and the appropriate management of it. Level of evidenceIII; descriptive cross-sectional study without a control group.