title: High incidence of burnout in academic chairpersons of anesthesiology: should we be taking better care of our leaders?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Burnout is a work-related psychologic syndrome characterized by emotional exhaustion, low personal accomplishment, and depersonalization.
  
  
  METHODS
  By using an instrument that included the MBI-HHS Burnout Inventory, we surveyed academic anesthesiology chairpersons in the United States. Current level of job satisfaction compared with 1 and 5 yr before the survey, likelihood of stepping down as chair in the next 2 yr, and a high risk of burnout were the primary outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 117 chairs surveyed, 102 (87%) responded. Nine surveys had insufficient responses for assessment of burnout. Of 93 chairs, 32 (34%) reported high current job satisfaction, which represented a significant decline compared with that reported for 1 yr (P = 0.009) and 5 yr (P = 0.001) before the survey. Of 93 chairs, 26 (28%) reported extreme likelihood of stepping down as a chair in 1-2 yr. There was no association of age (P = 0.16), sex (P = 0.82), or self-reported effectiveness (P = 0.63) with anticipated likelihood of stepping down, but there was a negative association between the modified efficacy scale scoρrgr; = -0.303, P = 0.003) and likelihood of stepping down. Of 93 chairs, 26 (28%) met the criteria for high burnout and an additional 29 (31%) met the criteria for moderately high burnout. Decreased current job satisfaction and low self-reported spousal/significant other support were independent predictors of high burnout risk.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fifty-one percent of academic anesthesiology chairs exhibit a high incidence/risk of burnout. Age, sex, time as a chair, hours worked, and perceived effectiveness were not associated with high burnout; however, low job satisfaction and reduced self-reported spousal/significant other support significantly increased the risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: Gildàsio S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: De Oliveira
authors.forename: Shireen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: M Christine
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Stock
authors.forename: Ronald L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Harter
authors.forename: Marcela D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: Paul C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: McCarthy
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000288:Administrative Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017677:Age Distribution; D000776:Anesthesiology; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology