Job Satisfaction Amongst OB/GYN and Surgical Residents at an Academic Center

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The association with physician burnout has been correlated with increasing perceived medical errors, and decreased productivity and compassion. Major components to satisfaction is work-life balance, ability to engage in desired activities, and ability to have time to unwind away from patient care demands. METHODS: This study composed of two independent surveys: The Maslach Burnout Inventory, and the Job Satisfaction Survey. Surveys were distributed to the 278 residents at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School with 190 respondents (68%) Residents surveyed included family medicine, general internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, emergency medicine, radiology, psychiatry, general surgery. This aspect of the study was to assess the status of the surgical related residencies programs. Respondents were 23/41 for surgery and 14/18 Ob&Gyn residents. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference between the two residency programs in the analysis. Job satisfaction General Surgery (18.9) and Obstetrics and Gynecology (17.4) demonstrating for both below average job satisfaction (15.1–20). Burnout score again was not statistically significant—General Surgery burnout score was 85.5 and Obstetrics and Gynecology score −79.0. There was no statistical difference noted across race, gender, marital status, religion and being a parent. DISCUSSION: Surgical related residents demonstrate job dissatisfaction and are a threat for burn out but there were no statistically significant findings between the specialties.