Anesthesiology
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The researchers performed multiple cross-sectional surveys of three years of US anesthesiology trainees, from their first year of clinical anesthesia training to a year after qualification. They surveyed the anesthesiologists for burnout, distress and depression.
Burnout, distress and depression were worryingly common (51%, 32% and 12% of residents), although self-reported availability of workplace resources to manage burnout & depression, and perceived work-life balance were protective, roughly halving odds of each outcome.
Having strong social supports was also associated with lower rates of depression and burnout, although not distress.
Both working more hours each week and having larger student loan debt were associated with depression and distress, although not burnout.
Females, although only making up 37% of respondents, were more likely to suffer from burnout and depression. International medical school graduates were in contrast less likely.
The take-home message...
Burnout, distress and depression are common among anesthesiology trainees and newly qualified anesthesiologists. Workplace support, efforts to maintain work-life balance, maintaining social supports and limiting working hours are modifiable factors that have protective effects.
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