Professional Burnout and the Risk Factors Among Aesthetic and Non-Aesthetic Otolaryngologists
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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).
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29. Balch C, Shanafelt T, Sloan J, Satele D, Kuerer H. Burnout and career satisfaction among surgical oncologists compared with other surgical specialties. Annals of surgical oncology. 2011;18:16-25.
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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 research notes. 2013;6(1):1-9.
2. Maslach C, Jackson SE, Leiter MP. Maslach burnout inventory: Scarecrow Education; 1997.
3. Maslach C, Leiter MP. Understanding the burnout experience: recent research and its implications for psychiatry. World psychiatry. 2016;15(2):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. Archives of internal medicine. 2012;172(18):1377-85.
5. INTeReSTS DO. Burnout in physicians. JR Coll Physicians Edinb. 2015;45:104-7.
6. Leslie Kane M. I Cry but No One Cares': Physician Burnout & Depression Report 2023: 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 management review. 2007;32(3):203-12.
8. Galaiya R, Kinross J, Arulampalam T. Factors associated with burnout syndrome in surgeons: a systematic review. The Annals of The Royal college of surgeons of England. 2020;102(6):401-7.
9. Shanafelt TD, Balch CM, Dyrbye L, Bechamps G, Russell T, Satele D, et al. Special report: suicidal ideation among American surgeons. Archives of surgery. 2011;146(1):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. Archives of surgery. 2012;147(2):168-74.
11. Pulcrano M, Evans SR, Sosin M. Quality of life and burnout rates across surgical specialties: a systematic review. JAMA surgery. 2016;151(10):970-8.
12. Prendergast C, Ketteler E, Evans G. Burnout in the plastic surgeon: implications and interventions. Aesthetic surgery journal. 2017;37(3):363-8.
13. Freeman BS. The ultimate guide to choosing a medical specialty: McGraw-Hill; 2013.
14. Shanafelt T, Sloan J, Satele D, Balch C. Why do surgeons consider leaving practice? Journal of the American College of Surgeons. 2011;212(3):421-2.
15. Shanafelt TD, Noseworthy JH, editors. Executive leadership and physician well-being: nine organizational strategies to promote engagement and reduce burnout. Mayo Clinic Proceedings; 2017: Elsevier.
16. Shanafelt TD, Balch CM, Bechamps G, Russell T, Dyrbye L, Satele D, et al. Burnout and medical errors among American surgeons. Annals of surgery. 2010;251(6):995-1000.
17. Shanafelt TD, Balch CM, Bechamps GJ, Russell T, Dyrbye L, Satele D, et al. Burnout and career satisfaction among American surgeons. Annals of surgery. 2009;250(3):463-71.
18. West CP, Dyrbye LN, Shanafelt TD. Physician burnout: contributors, consequences and solutions. Journal of internal medicine. 2018;283(6):516-29.
19. Golub JS, Weiss PS, Ramesh AK, Ossoff RH, Johns III MM. Burnout in residents of otolaryngology–head and neck surgery: a national inquiry into the health of residency training. Academic Medicine. 2007;82(6):596-601.
20. Guyuron B. Dynamics in rhinoplasty. Plastic and reconstructive surgery. 2000;105(6):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 Science Reports. 2023;6(8):e1495.
22. Devi S. Iranian medic suicides spark criticism of working conditions. The Lancet. 2024;403(10431):1010.
23. Ehiakonande M SA, Soodani M. Relationship between health and job burnout of Behbahan Islamic Azad University employees. Thought and behavior in clinical psychology. 1387;3(10):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 Behavioral Research. 1994;29(3):289-311.
25. Maslach C, Leiter MP. Burnout. Stress: Concepts, cognition, emotion, and behavior: Elsevier; 2016. p. 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 Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Medicine. 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. Journal of the American College of Surgeons. 2010;211(5):609-19.
28. Reed L, Mamidala M, Stocks R, Sheyn A. Factors correlating to burnout among otolaryngology residents. Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology. 2020;129(6):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. Annals of surgical oncology. 2011;18:16-25.
30. Dimou FM, Eckelbarger D, Riall TS. Surgeon burnout: a systematic review. Journal of the American College of Surgeons. 2016;222(6):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 research notes. 2013;6(1):1-9.
| Files | ||
| Issue | Articles in Press: Vol 64 No 02 (2026) | |
| Section | Original Articles | |
| Keywords | ||
| burnout mental health otolaryngologist aesthetic surgeon work-life balance | ||
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How to Cite
1.
Jahandideh H, Abedin F, Abbasi N. Professional Burnout and the Risk Factors Among Aesthetic and Non-Aesthetic Otolaryngologists. Acta Med Iran. 2026;64(02).
