Background: Burnout is a syndrome of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization that leads to decreased effectiveness at work. A limited amount of information exists about the relationship between specific demographic and practice characteristics with burnout among neurosurgeons and neurologists and no previous survey were conducted for Japanese physicians. The objective of this study is to determine the incidence of burnout among Japanese neurosurgeons and neurologists and evaluate personal and professional characteristics associated with their burnout. Methods: Members of the Japanese Neurosurgical Society and Japanese Society of Neurology were sent an anonymous, cross-sectional survey in March 2011. The survey evaluated demographic variables, practice characteristics, career satisfaction, burnout, and quality of life (QOL). Burnout and QOL were measured using validated instruments, Maslash Burnout Inventory and SF-36, respectively. Results: Of total 10741 neurosurgeons and neurologists excluding three prefectures in the Tohoku earthquake area, 2724(25.3%) returned surveys. Responders had been in practice 21.9 years, worked 65.9 hours per week, and were on duty 2.95 nights/month and on call 2.02 nights/ week (mean values). Overall, 47.6% of responders were burned out, 58% screened positive for mild symptoms of depression, 27.1% showed sever depressive symptoms. Overall, 27.8 % had a mental QOL score > 1 standard deviation below the population norm and 58% screened positive for mild symptoms of depression, 26.6% showed sever depressive symptoms. Factors associated with burnout included longer working time(OR=1.24/10hour increase,95%CI 1.17-1.31),number of patients(OR =1.08,95%CI 1.03-1.13),number of t-PA treatments(OR=1.17, 95%CI 1.07-1.28), number of on duty nights per month (OR=1.08,95%CI 1.05-1.11),number of on call nights per week (OR=1.08,95%CI 1.05-1.21), more time spending for stroke care (OR=1.09, 95%CI 1.01-1.17). Factors protective for burnout included sleep hours (OR=0.77/1hr increase, 95%CI 0.69-0.85), high income (OR=0.81/60K US $ increase, 0.74-0.88) and year of experience (OR= 0.75, 95%CI 0.68-0.81). After the stepwise selections, sleeping hours, working time, number of on duty nights, high income, number of patients remained in the final prediction model. Conclusion: Burnout is common among Japanese neurosurgeons and neurologists. One hour increase of sleeping time reduced the 23% of burnout risk and high income level was also protective for burnout. Additional prospective research is needed to confirm this relationship to prevent the burnout and promote the mental health of Japanese neurosurgeons and neurologists.
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