An assessment of burnout in New Zealand orthopaedic resident medical officers.

AIMS
Burnout and fatigue are common in the medical profession. The primary aim was to assess rates of burnout in trainee and non-trainee orthopaedic registrars in New Zealand. A secondary aim was to establish which specific factors are associated with burnout.


METHODS
In 2021, a 53-question online survey was sent to New Zealand trainee and non-trainee orthopaedic registrars. The survey included questions addressing demographics, modifiable factors known to lead to burnout, information on respective orthopaedic departments, and how respondents had fared with COVID-19. Registrars also completed the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey for Medical Personnel (MBI-HSS MP), a 22-question validated survey that is designed to assess the frequency and intensity of perceived burnout among medical personnel.


RESULTS
Fifty of 62 (80.6%) trainees and 66 of 70 (estimated number) (94.3%) of non-trainees completed the survey. Trainees and non-trainees both exhibited moderate levels of burnout. The trainee mean score emotional exhaustion (EE) 22.5, depersonalisation (DP) 8.8, personal achievement (PA) 35.9; non-trainee mean score EE 22.4, DP 8.9, PA 35.9. Fifty-two point two percent of trainees and 50% of non-trainees scored in the severe range for at least one of EE or DP. Factors shown to reduce burnout are the presence of a senior colleague (P<0.001), participation in professional assistance (P=0.049), working in a department with a full complement of staff (P=0.020) and being able to attend health maintenance appointments (P=0.050).


CONCLUSION
Our study shows that approximately half of both trainee and non-trainee orthopaedic registrars are exhibiting signs of burnout. This is comparable to other developed nations with a similar healthcare system.