Physician burnout in pediatric critical care medicine

OBJECTIVESTo determine the prevalence of, and factors associated with, burnout among pediatric intensivists across a variety of practice settings. DESIGNA population-based survey, using a mailed questionnaire that included a previously validated Burnout Scale. SETTINGPrivate and academic pediatric critical care practices. PARTICIPANTSRespondents from among all members of the Pediatric Section of the Society of Critical Care Medicine and all physicians certified in pediatric critical care medicine by the American Board of Pediatrics. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTSThe questionnaire consisted of demographic items, variables noted in the literature as being associated with burnout (e.g., the individual's perception of how others valued their work, and the use of preventive measures such as regular exercise to relieve stress), and a validated Burnout Scale. The questionnaire also included questions pertaining to past training, practice of other primary specialties or subspecialties, practice settings, admission responsibilities, actual and preferred practice activities, total work effort, academic activities, and causes of stress at work. The Burnout Scale of Pines and Aronson is a self-diagnosis instrument, consisting of 21 questions using a 7-point frequency scale. The total Burnout Score represents an average of the scores for the individual components. Scores of 3 and 4 were classified as ``burned out.'' A total of 883 questionnaires were mailed; 474 (56%) were respondent returns and 35 questionnaires could not be delivered. Primary analyses focused on the 389 respondent attending physicians presently practicing pediatric critical care medicine at the time of the survey. The average Burnout Score of these attending physicians was 3.1 +/- 0.8; 36% were classified as being at risk for burnout, and 14% were classified as burned out. There was no association between burnout status and the following work conditionshaving fellows; having protected time for research and publications; frequency of being called at home; frequency of returning to the hospital when called at home; or call schedule. Respondents classified as burned out were significantly more likely than respondents who were classified as not burned out to feel that their work was not valued by others. Burned out respondents were less likely than respondents who were not burned out t