Hypothesis: “To explore factors associated with symptoms of burnout and career choice regret during residency”
Methods: Cohort study of approximately 4700 US medical students. Survey data was collected during MS4 and PGY-2 years. Maslach Burnout Index (MBI) questions were used in the questionnaires. Additionally, questions related to assessment of career/specialty choice regret were included.
Results: Of respondents, ~45% of residents demonstrated symptoms of burnout. Urology residents had the greatest rates of burnout. Anesthesiology burnout rate was 42.5%. Pathology residents had the greatest rate of career choice regret. Anesthesiology career choice regret rate was 20.6%, which was higher than average. Anxiety measured in MS4 questionnaire and female gender were associated with increased burnout
Strengths: Included nearly every specialty; simple and practical survey
Weaknesses: Limitations in generalizability with 49 medical schools and small sample size of certain specialties; no measure of baseline career choice regret; burnout interpreted subjectively/likely without uniform meaning to medical students and residents; limited number of questions assessing burnout; selection bias; significant attrition
Key Point: Burnout is prevalent in US residents. Burnout was associated with increased career and specialty choice regret.