Prevalence of and Associations With Distress and Professional Burnout Among Otolaryngologists: Part I, Trainees.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of distress and burnout in otolaryngology trainees, including associations with relevant sociodemographic and professional factors, and to compare these results with those of attending otolaryngologists.

Study Design: A cross-sectional survey of trainees and attending physicians.

Setting: Twelve academic otolaryngology programs.

Methods: Distress and burnout were measured with the Expanded Physician Well-being Index and the 2-item Maslach Burnout Inventory. The Patient Health Questionnaire-2 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2 were used to screen for depressive disorders and anxiety disorders, respectively. Associations with sociodemographic and professional characteristics were assessed.

Results: Of the 613 surveys administered to trainees and attending physicians, 340 were completed (56%). Among 154 trainees, distress was present in 49%, professional burnout in 35%, positive depressive disorder screening in 5%, and positive anxiety disorder screening in 16%. In univariable analysis, female gender, hours worked in a typical week (HW), and nights on call in a typical week (NOC) were significantly associated with distress. In multivariable analysis, female gender (odds ratio, 3.91; = .001) and HW (odds ratio for each 10 HW, 1.89; = .003) remained significantly associated with distress. Female gender, HW, and NOC were significantly associated with burnout univariably, although only HW (odds ratio for each 10 HW, 1.92; = .003) remained significantly associated with burnout in a multivariable setting. Attending physicians had less distress than trainees ( = .02) and felt less callous and less emotionally hardened than trainees ( < .001).

Conclusion: Otolaryngology trainees experience significant work-place distress (49%) and burnout (35%). Gender, HW, and NOC had the strongest associations with distress and burnout.