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Conflict and emotional exhaustion in obstetrician-gynaecologists: a national survey.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Yoon, JD; Rasinski, KA; Curlin, FA
Published in: J Med Ethics
December 2010

CONTEXT: Conflicts over treatment decisions have been linked to physicians' emotional states. OBJECTIVE: To measure the prevalence of emotional exhaustion and conflicts over treatment decisions among US obstetrician/gynaecologists (ob/gyns), and to examine the relationship between the two and the physician characteristics that predict each. METHODS: Mailed survey of a stratified random sample of 1800 US ob/gyn physicians. Criterion variables were levels of emotional exhaustion and frequency of conflict with colleagues and patients. Predictors included physicians' religious characteristics and self-perceived empathy. RESULTS: Response rate among eligible physicians was 66% (1154/1760). 36% of ob/gyns reported high levels of emotional exhaustion, and majorities reported conflict with colleagues (59%) and patients (61%). Those reporting conflict were much more likely to report emotional exhaustion (58% vs 29% who never conflict, OR, 95% CI 2.8, 1.6 to 4.8 for conflict with colleagues; 55% versus 26%, OR, 95% CI 2.2, 1.4 to 3.5 for conflict with patients). Physicians with lower self-perceived empathy were more likely to report physician-patient conflicts (65% vs 58% with higher empathy, OR, 95% CI 1.4, 1.0 to 1.9), as were female ob/gyns (66% vs 57% of males, OR, 95% CI 1.5, 1.1 to 2.0). Foreign-born physicians were less likely to report such conflicts (47% vs 64% of US born, OR, 95% CI 0.5, 0.4 to 0.8). Physicians' religious characteristics were not significantly associated with reporting conflict. CONCLUSIONS: Conflicts over treatment decisions are associated with physicians' empathy, gender, immigration history and level of emotional exhaustion. With respect to the latter, conflict in the clinical encounter may represent an overlooked source or sign of burnout among ob/gyns.

Duke Scholars

Published In

J Med Ethics

DOI

EISSN

1473-4257

Publication Date

December 2010

Volume

36

Issue

12

Start / End Page

731 / 735

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Work
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Physicians
  • Obstetrics
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Gynecology
  • Female
  • Fatigue
 

Citation

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ICMJE
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Yoon, J. D., Rasinski, K. A., & Curlin, F. A. (2010). Conflict and emotional exhaustion in obstetrician-gynaecologists: a national survey. J Med Ethics, 36(12), 731–735. https://doi.org/10.1136/jme.2010.037762
Yoon, John D., Kenneth A. Rasinski, and Farr A. Curlin. “Conflict and emotional exhaustion in obstetrician-gynaecologists: a national survey.J Med Ethics 36, no. 12 (December 2010): 731–35. https://doi.org/10.1136/jme.2010.037762.
Yoon JD, Rasinski KA, Curlin FA. Conflict and emotional exhaustion in obstetrician-gynaecologists: a national survey. J Med Ethics. 2010 Dec;36(12):731–5.
Yoon, John D., et al. “Conflict and emotional exhaustion in obstetrician-gynaecologists: a national survey.J Med Ethics, vol. 36, no. 12, Dec. 2010, pp. 731–35. Pubmed, doi:10.1136/jme.2010.037762.
Yoon JD, Rasinski KA, Curlin FA. Conflict and emotional exhaustion in obstetrician-gynaecologists: a national survey. J Med Ethics. 2010 Dec;36(12):731–735.

Published In

J Med Ethics

DOI

EISSN

1473-4257

Publication Date

December 2010

Volume

36

Issue

12

Start / End Page

731 / 735

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Work
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Physicians
  • Obstetrics
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Gynecology
  • Female
  • Fatigue