Burnout Among Otolaryngology Residents in Saudi Arabia: A Multicenter Study.
OBJECTIVE
Determine the prevalence of, and associated risk factors for, burnout among otolaryngologist residents in Saudi Arabia.


METHODS
A cross-section study of multicenter hospitals in Saudi Arabia conducted in March 2013.


METHODS
Registered residents in Saudi Otolaryngology Board Program.


METHODS
The Maslach Burnout Inventory was used to measure burnout status. Questions supplementary to the Maslach Burnout Inventory were also included to identify associated potential risk factors such as demographic data, resident satisfaction, and work conditions.


RESULTS
Of the initial 123 questionnaires that were distributed, 85 yielded responses, a rate of 69%. The mean age (standard deviation [SD]) of respondents was 29 (2.3) years. Of those, 67% (57/85) were men and 66% (55/85) were married. Resident levels were delineated: level 2, 19%; level 3, 33%; level 4, 29%; and level 5, 19%. The mean number of on-call days/month (SD) was 7 (2), clinics/week (SD) was 3 (1), sleep hours/day (SD) was 6 (1), and operations/week (SD) was 2 (1). The mean emotional exhaustion (EE) and depersonalization scores were high at 29.5 (SD = 9.6) and 10.7 (SD = 6), respectively. The mean personal accomplishment was low at 32.33 (SD = 6). The mean of all subscales did not differ by sex (EE p = 0.5; depersonalization p = 0.09; personal accomplishment p = 0.4). Mean EE differed by marital status, which was 31.2, 31.3, and 25.6 for married, divorced, and single, respectively, analysis of variance test p = 0.045.


CONCLUSIONS
Burnout prevalence was found to be high among otolaryngologist residents in Saudi Arabia. The associated variables examined in this study should be addressed to decrease this level of burnout and provide residents with a less stressful work environment.
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Alkharj, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: pt.turki@hotmail.com.
Turki
T
Aldrees
College of Sciences and Health Professions, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Motasim
M
Badri
College of Medicine and Research Center, King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Tahera
T
Islam
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Khalid
K
Alqahtani
D000328:Adult; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D010036:Otolaryngology / Q000193:education*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Medical Knowledge; Systems-Based Practice; burnout; otolaryngology; physicians; residents