An Examination of Burnout amongst New Zealand Otolaryngologists
Authors List
Patel, C., Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Northland District Health Board, NZ
Heaven, C., Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Northland District Health Board, NZ
Shetty, S., Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Northland District Health Board, NZ
Waterhouse, D., Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Northland District Health Board, NZ
Roberts, M., Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Nelson Marlborough District Health Board, NZ
Introduction: Burnout is prevalent amongst physicians and surgeons across New Zealand. It is linked to career dissatisfaction, emotional apathy, physician resignation and most importantly, suboptimal delivery of care. Burnout amongst NZ Otolaryngologists is an important subject to study not only to determine the degree with which our national ORL workforce is suffering from burnout, but to additionally identify key demographic and professional risk factors for burnout. Our hypothesis is that a significant proportion of consultant ORL surgeons are currently suffering from burnout.
Aims: We aim to identify the number of consultant ORL surgeons in NZ suffering from burnout and quantify the severity. Additionally we aim to identify the most important risk factors for burnout and to quantify the correlation of these factors with risk for and severity of burnout.
Methods: A questionnaire including the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and our own questions assessing contributory risk factors were sent to 104 New Zealand Otolaryngologists. We used an anonymous physical postage system and an anonymised online survey system (SurveyMonkey).
Results: Of the 104 Otolaryngologists, 58% (n=60) responded (final results pending, survey still open for further 3 weeks). Sixty-four percent of participants are suffering in at least one of three burnout domains in the MBI (Emotional exhaustion, Depersonalisation, loss of Personal accomplishment). The single most important risk factor was working more than 50 hours per week.
Conclusion: Burnout is very common amongst New Zealand Otolaryngologists. With more than half of the entire ORL workforce in New Zealand suffering from burnout, there is a very serious need to further examine this. The New Zealand population is at increased risk of longer wait-times and suboptimal care if the problem of ORL surgeon burnout is not addressed. The consultant ORL workforce in New Zealand will benefit from physician wellbeing interventions at various levels.
Patel, C., Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Northland District Health Board, NZ
Heaven, C., Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Northland District Health Board, NZ
Shetty, S., Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Northland District Health Board, NZ
Waterhouse, D., Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Northland District Health Board, NZ
Roberts, M., Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Nelson Marlborough District Health Board, NZ
Introduction: Burnout is prevalent amongst physicians and surgeons across New Zealand. It is linked to career dissatisfaction, emotional apathy, physician resignation and most importantly, suboptimal delivery of care. Burnout amongst NZ Otolaryngologists is an important subject to study not only to determine the degree with which our national ORL workforce is suffering from burnout, but to additionally identify key demographic and professional risk factors for burnout. Our hypothesis is that a significant proportion of consultant ORL surgeons are currently suffering from burnout.
Aims: We aim to identify the number of consultant ORL surgeons in NZ suffering from burnout and quantify the severity. Additionally we aim to identify the most important risk factors for burnout and to quantify the correlation of these factors with risk for and severity of burnout.
Methods: A questionnaire including the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and our own questions assessing contributory risk factors were sent to 104 New Zealand Otolaryngologists. We used an anonymous physical postage system and an anonymised online survey system (SurveyMonkey).
Results: Of the 104 Otolaryngologists, 58% (n=60) responded (final results pending, survey still open for further 3 weeks). Sixty-four percent of participants are suffering in at least one of three burnout domains in the MBI (Emotional exhaustion, Depersonalisation, loss of Personal accomplishment). The single most important risk factor was working more than 50 hours per week.
Conclusion: Burnout is very common amongst New Zealand Otolaryngologists. With more than half of the entire ORL workforce in New Zealand suffering from burnout, there is a very serious need to further examine this. The New Zealand population is at increased risk of longer wait-times and suboptimal care if the problem of ORL surgeon burnout is not addressed. The consultant ORL workforce in New Zealand will benefit from physician wellbeing interventions at various levels.
