Prevalence of Burnout in Medical and Surgical Residents: A Meta-Analysis

Zhi Xuan Low, Keith A. Yeo, Vijay K. Sharma, Gilberto K. Leung, Roger S. McIntyre, Anthony Guerrero, Brett Lu, Chun Chiang Sin Fai Lam, Bach X. Tran, Long H. Nguyen, Cyrus S. Ho, Wilson W. Tam and Roger C. Ho
Additional contact information
Zhi Xuan Low: Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore
Keith A. Yeo: Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore
Vijay K. Sharma: Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore
Gilberto K. Leung: Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Roger S. McIntyre: Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
Anthony Guerrero: Department of Psychiatry, John A Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
Brett Lu: Department of Psychiatry, John A Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
Chun Chiang Sin Fai Lam: South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London SE5 8AZ, UK
Bach X. Tran: Institute for Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Long H. Nguyen: Institute for Global Health Innovations, Duy Tan University, Da Nang 550000, Vietnam
Cyrus S. Ho: Department of Psychological Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore 119228, Singapore
Wilson W. Tam: Alice Lee School of Nursing, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore
Roger C. Ho: Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 9, 1-22

Abstract: The burnout syndrome is characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal achievement. Uncertainty exists about the prevalence of burnout among medical and surgical residents. Associations between burnout and gender, age, specialty, and geographical location of training are unclear. In this meta-analysis, we aimed to quantitatively summarize the global prevalence rates of burnout among residents, by specialty and its contributing factors. We searched PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase, and Web of Science to identify studies that examined the prevalence of burnout among residents from various specialties and countries. The primary outcome assessed was the aggregate prevalence of burnout among all residents. The random effects model was used to calculate the aggregate prevalence, and heterogeneity was assessed by I 2 statistic and Cochran’s Q statistic. We also performed meta-regression and subgroup analysis. The aggregate prevalence of burnout was 51.0% (95% CI: 45.0–57.0%, I 2 = 97%) in 22,778 residents. Meta-regression found that the mean age (β = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.28–0.40, p < 0.001) and the proportion of males (β = 0.4, 95% CI = 0.10–0.69, p = 0.009) were significant moderators. Subgroup analysis by specialty showed that radiology (77.16%, 95% CI: 5.99–99.45), neurology (71.93%, 95% CI: 65.78–77.39), and general surgery (58.39%, 95% CI: 45.72–70.04) were the top three specialties with the highest prevalence of burnout. In contrast, psychiatry (42.05%, 95% CI: 33.09–51.58), oncology (38.36%, 95% CI: 32.69–44.37), and family medicine (35.97%, 95% CI: 13.89–66.18) had the lowest prevalence of burnout. Subgroup analysis also found that the prevalence of burnout in several Asian countries was 57.18% (95% CI: 45.8–67.85); in several European countries it was 27.72% (95% CI: 17.4–41.11) and in North America it was 51.64% (46.96–56.28). Our findings suggest a high prevalence of burnout among medical and surgical residents. Older and male residents suffered more than their respective counterparts.

Keywords: burnout; junior doctors; medical; meta-analysis; prevalence; residency; surgical (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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