The Magnitude of Anesthesiology Residents Burnout at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences: A Cross-Sectional Study

TL;DR

This study found high burnout rates among anesthesiology residents, linked to depression, poor sleep, and low quality of life, suggesting a need for targeted interventions.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into burnout prevalence and its correlates among anesthesiology residents in a specific academic setting.

Findings

Burnout was highly prevalent, with 100% reporting reduced personal accomplishment.

Severe depression affected 17.65% of residents and strongly correlated with burnout dimensions.

Emotional exhaustion was significantly associated with increased daytime sleepiness and lower quality of life.

Abstract

Burnout is a psychological syndrome characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment, particularly prevalent among anesthesiology residents due to their demanding work environment.

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of burnout and its associations with depression, sleep quality, and quality of life among anesthesiology residents at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences.

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2023 with 51 anesthesiology residents. Validated Persian versions of standardized tools, including the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), STOP-Bang test, and World Health Organization (WHO) Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) Questionnaire, were used to measure burnout, depression, sleep quality, and quality of life. Descriptive statistics and correlation analyses explored associations between these variables.

Burnout was highly prevalent: 41.2% of residents experienced severe emotional exhaustion, 66.7% exhibited high depersonalization, and 100% reported reduced personal accomplishment. Severe depression affected 17.65% of participants, correlating strongly with all burnout dimensions. Emotional exhaustion was significantly associated with increased daytime sleepiness (r = 0.470, P < 0.001), while burnout severity inversely impacted physical, psychological, and social quality of life. Emotional support emerged as a critical protective factor against burnout. Exploratory analyses revealed no significant gender differences in burnout, depression, or sleep quality, though small effect sizes suggested trends toward higher emotional exhaustion and depression among female residents.

The study highlights the alarming prevalence of burnout among anesthesiology residents, driven by occupational stress, sleep disturbances, and mental health challenges. These findings align with research in other high-stress specialties, such as emergency medicine and surgery, but also underscore unique stressors faced by anesthesiology residents. Targeted interventions, such as optimizing work conditions, enhancing emotional support, and addressing mental health and sleep issues, are urgently needed. Longitudinal and comparative studies are recommended to further explore burnout progression and develop specialty-specific strategies to improve resident well-being and patient care outcomes.