Why Radiology Residents Experience Burnout and How to Fix It

Abstract

Almost half of practicing radiologists report burnout ( 1 Peckham C. Medscape national physician burnout and depression report. https://www.medscape.com/slideshow/2018-lifestyle-burnout-depression-6009235-1Date: 2018 Google Scholar , 2 Shanafelt TD Hasan O Dyrbye LN et al. Changes in burnout and satisfaction with work-life balance in physicians and the general US working population between 2011 and 2014. Mayo Clin Proc. 2015; 90: 1600-1613 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (1484) Google Scholar ). This rate is even higher in radiology residents with rates as high as 85% reported, which is one of the highest rates among medical subspecialties ( 3 Guenette JP Smith SE Burnout: prevalence and associated factors among radiology residents in New England with comparison against United States resident physicians in other specialties. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2017; 209: 136-141 Crossref PubMed Scopus (55) Google Scholar , 4 Holmes EG Connolly A Putnam KT et al. Taking care of our own: a multispecialty study of resident and program director perspectives on contributors to burnout and potential interventions. Acad Psychiatry. 2017; 41: 159-166 Crossref PubMed Scopus (59) Google Scholar ). The term burnout was coined by Dr Freudenberger to describe the negative effects of profound and prolonged stress and lofty ideals to the “helping” professionals ( 5 Freudenberger HJ Staff burnout. J Soc Issues. 1974; 30: 159-165 Crossref Scopus (2531) Google Scholar ). It has been described as having three components—emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and decreased feelings of personal accomplishment ( 6 Maslach C Schaufeli WB Leiter MP Job burnout. Annu Rev Psychol. 2001; 52: 397-422 Crossref PubMed Scopus (8116) Google Scholar ).