Professional Burnout and the Risk Factors Among Aesthetic and Non-Aesthetic Otolaryngologists
,
Abstract
According to new reports, the burnout rate among doctors has increased dramatically in recent years. Some studies have found a higher prevalence of burnout in otolaryngologists. We aimed to quantify the incidence of burnout among our community otolaryngologists, identify risk factors, and assess its impact on well-being. Members of our national society of otolaryngologists were invited to complete an anonymous survey. The survey included a validated burnout measure and assessed surgeon demographics, professional and personal risk factors, and professional satisfaction and well-being. Out of the 200 surgeons invited, 170 completed the survey. Significant risk factors for burnout included age, self-identification as more of an aesthetic surgeon than a non-aesthetic surgeon, the surgeon's practice setting (private or public centers), work experience, legal conflicts with patients, and insufficient time for sleep. Emotional exhaustion scale was reported by 20.6 percent, depersonalization scale by 14.7 percent, and personal accomplishment scale by 37.1 percent. The validated burnout rate among Iranian otolaryngologists was 61.8 percent, with a multifactorial etiology. This occupational peril is avertible and can be mitigated through a series of preventive actions. Otolaryngologists need to be aware of this and seek support when needed in their professional endeavors (supplementary data).
2. Maslach C, Jackson SE, Leiter MP. Maslach burnout inventory. Lanham: Scarecrow Education; 1997.
3. Maslach C, Leiter MP. Understanding the burnout experience: recent research and its implications for psychiatry. World Psychiatry 2016;15:103-11.
4. Shanafelt TD, Boone S, Tan L, Dyrbye LN, Sotile W, Satele D, et al. Burnout and satisfaction with work-life balance among US physicians relative to the general US population. Arch Intern Med 2012;172:1377-85.
5. INTeReSTS DO. Burnout in physicians. J R Coll Physicians Edinb 2015;45:104-7.
6. Kane L. I cry but no one cares: physician burnout & depression report 2023. New York: Medscape; 2023. Available from: https://www.medscape.com/slideshow/2023-lifestyle-burnout-6016058.
7. Williams ES, Manwell LB, Konrad TR, Linzer M. The relationship of organizational culture, stress, satisfaction, and burnout with physician-reported error and suboptimal patient care: results from the MEMO study. Health Care Manage Rev 2007;32:203-12.
8. Galaiya R, Kinross J, Arulampalam T. Factors associated with burnout syndrome in surgeons: a systematic review. Ann R Coll Surg Engl 2020;102:401-7.
9. Shanafelt TD, Balch CM, Dyrbye L, Bechamps G, Russell T, Satele D, et al. Special report: suicidal ideation among American surgeons. Arch Surg 2011;146:54-62.
10. Oreskovich MR, Kaups KL, Balch CM, Hanks JB, Satele D, Sloan J, et al. Prevalence of alcohol use disorders among American surgeons. Arch Surg 2012;147:168-74.
11. Pulcrano M, Evans SR, Sosin M. Quality of life and burnout rates across surgical specialties: a systematic review. JAMA Surg 2016;151:970-8.
12. Prendergast C, Ketteler E, Evans G. Burnout in the plastic surgeon: implications and interventions. Aesthet Surg J 2017;37:363-8.
13. Freeman BS. The ultimate guide to choosing a medical specialty. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2013.
14. Shanafelt T, Sloan J, Satele D, Balch C. Why do surgeons consider leaving practice? J Am Coll Surg 2011;212:421-2.
15. Shanafelt TD, Noseworthy JH. Executive leadership and physician well-being: nine organizational strategies to promote engagement and reduce burnout. Mayo Clin Proc 2017;92:129-46.
16. Shanafelt TD, Balch CM, Bechamps G, Russell T, Dyrbye L, Satele D, et al. Burnout and medical errors among American surgeons. Ann Surg 2010;251:995-1000.
17. Shanafelt TD, Balch CM, Bechamps GJ, Russell T, Dyrbye L, Satele D, et al. Burnout and career satisfaction among American surgeons. Ann Surg 2009;250:463-71.
18. West CP, Dyrbye LN, Shanafelt TD. Physician burnout: contributors, consequences and solutions. J Intern Med 2018;283:516-29.
19. Golub JS, Weiss PS, Ramesh AK, Ossoff RH, Johns MM 3rd. Burnout in residents of otolaryngology–head and neck surgery: a national inquiry into the health of residency training. Acad Med 2007;82:596-601.
20. Guyuron B. Dynamics in rhinoplasty. Plast Reconstr Surg 2000;105:2257-9.
21. Nabavizadeh SS, Naseri R, Sadeghi E, Afshari A, Dehdari Ebrahimi N, Sadeghi A. Prevalence of body dysmorphic disorder in rhinoplasty candidates: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Health Sci Rep 2023;6:e1495.
22. Devi S. Iranian medic suicides spark criticism of working conditions. Lancet 2024;403:1010.
23. Ehiakonande M, Soodani M. Relationship between health and job burnout of Behbahan Islamic Azad University employees. Thought Behav Clin Psychol 1387;3:99-107.
24. Byrne BM. Testing for the factorial validity, replication, and invariance of a measuring instrument: a paradigmatic application based on the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Multivariate Behav Res 1994;29:289-311.
25. Maslach C, Leiter MP. Burnout. In: Stress: concepts, cognition, emotion, and behavior. Amsterdam: Elsevier; 2016:351-7.
26. Benjamin T, Gulati A, Zebolsky AL, Seth R, Knott PD, Okuyemi O, et al. Assessing the prevalence of burnout among female microvascular head and neck surgeons. Facial Plast Surg Aesthet Med 2023.
27. Balch CM, Shanafelt TD, Dyrbye L, Sloan JA, Russell TR, Bechamps GJ, et al. Surgeon distress as calibrated by hours worked and nights on call. J Am Coll Surg 2010;211:609-19.
28. Reed L, Mamidala M, Stocks R, Sheyn A. Factors correlating to burnout among otolaryngology residents. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2020;129:599-604.
29. Balch C, Shanafelt T, Sloan J, Satele D, Kuerer H. Burnout and career satisfaction among surgical oncologists compared with other surgical specialties. Ann Surg Oncol 2011;18:16-25.
30. Dimou FM, Eckelbarger D, Riall TS. Surgeon burnout: a systematic review. J Am Coll Surg 2016;222:1230.
31. Gerber M, Brand S, Elliot C, Holsboer-Trachsler E, Pühse U, Beck J. Aerobic exercise training and burnout: a pilot study with male participants suffering from burnout. BMC Res Notes 2013;6:1-9.
| Files | ||
| Issue | Vol 64 No 2 (2026) | |
| Section | Original Articles | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.18502/acta.v64i2.21528 | |
| Keywords | ||
| Burnout Mental health Otolaryngologist Aesthetic surgeon Work-life balance | ||
| Rights and permissions | |
|
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
