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Trends in Surgeon Burnout in the US and Canada: Systematic Review and Meta-Regression Analysis.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Etheridge, JC; Evans, D; Zhao, L; Ibrahim, N; Wick, EC; Freischlag, JA; Brownstein, MR
Published in: J Am Coll Surg
January 1, 2023

BACKGROUND: Burnout among surgeons is increasingly recognized as a crisis. However, little is known about changes in burnout prevalence over time. We evaluated temporal trends in burnout among surgeons and surgical trainees of all specialties in the US and Canada. STUDY DESIGN: We systematically reviewed MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycINFO for studies assessing surgeon burnout from January 1981 through September 2021. Changes in dichotomized Maslach Burnout Inventory scores and mean subscale scores over time were assessed using multivariable random-effects meta-regression. RESULTS: Of 3,575 studies screened, 103 studies representing 63,587 individuals met inclusion criteria. Publication dates ranged from 1996 through 2021. Overall, 41% of surgeons met criteria for burnout. Trainees were more affected than attending surgeons (46% vs 36%, p = 0.012). Prevalence remained stable over the study period (-4.8% per decade, 95% CI -13.2% to 3.5%). Mean scores for emotional exhaustion declined and depersonalization declined over time (-4.1 per decade, 95% CI -7.4 to -0.8 and -1.4 per decade, 95% CI -3.0 to -0.2). Personal accomplishment scores remained unchanged. A high degree of heterogeneity was noted in all analyses despite adjustment for training status, specialty, practice setting, and study quality. CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to popular perceptions, we found no evidence of rising surgeon burnout in published literature. Rather, emotional exhaustion and depersonalization may be decreasing. Nonetheless, burnout levels remain unacceptably high, indicating a need for meaningful interventions across training levels and specialties. Future research should be deliberately designed to support longitudinal integration through prospective meta-regression to facilitate monitoring of trends in surgeon burnout.

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Published In

J Am Coll Surg

DOI

EISSN

1879-1190

Publication Date

January 1, 2023

Volume

236

Issue

1

Start / End Page

253 / 265

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Surgery
  • Surgeons
  • Regression Analysis
  • Prospective Studies
  • Prevalence
  • Humans
  • Burnout, Professional
  • 3202 Clinical sciences
  • 1103 Clinical Sciences
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Etheridge, J. C., Evans, D., Zhao, L., Ibrahim, N., Wick, E. C., Freischlag, J. A., & Brownstein, M. R. (2023). Trends in Surgeon Burnout in the US and Canada: Systematic Review and Meta-Regression Analysis. J Am Coll Surg, 236(1), 253–265. https://doi.org/10.1097/XCS.0000000000000402
Etheridge, James C., Devon Evans, Lily Zhao, Nourah Ibrahim, Elizabeth C. Wick, Julie A. Freischlag, and Michelle R. Brownstein. “Trends in Surgeon Burnout in the US and Canada: Systematic Review and Meta-Regression Analysis.J Am Coll Surg 236, no. 1 (January 1, 2023): 253–65. https://doi.org/10.1097/XCS.0000000000000402.
Etheridge JC, Evans D, Zhao L, Ibrahim N, Wick EC, Freischlag JA, et al. Trends in Surgeon Burnout in the US and Canada: Systematic Review and Meta-Regression Analysis. J Am Coll Surg. 2023 Jan 1;236(1):253–65.
Etheridge, James C., et al. “Trends in Surgeon Burnout in the US and Canada: Systematic Review and Meta-Regression Analysis.J Am Coll Surg, vol. 236, no. 1, Jan. 2023, pp. 253–65. Pubmed, doi:10.1097/XCS.0000000000000402.
Etheridge JC, Evans D, Zhao L, Ibrahim N, Wick EC, Freischlag JA, Brownstein MR. Trends in Surgeon Burnout in the US and Canada: Systematic Review and Meta-Regression Analysis. J Am Coll Surg. 2023 Jan 1;236(1):253–265.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Am Coll Surg

DOI

EISSN

1879-1190

Publication Date

January 1, 2023

Volume

236

Issue

1

Start / End Page

253 / 265

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Surgery
  • Surgeons
  • Regression Analysis
  • Prospective Studies
  • Prevalence
  • Humans
  • Burnout, Professional
  • 3202 Clinical sciences
  • 1103 Clinical Sciences