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Recognizing and Preventing Burnout among Orthopaedic Leaders

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research

Abstract

Stress, emotional exhaustion, and burnout are widespread in the medical profession in general and in orthopaedic surgery in particular. We attempted to identify variables associated with burnout as assessed by validated instruments. Surveys were sent to 282 leaders from orthopaedic surgery academic departments in the United States by e-mail and mail. Responses were received from 195 leaders for a response rate of 69%. The average surgeon worked 68.3 hours per week and more than ½ of this time was allocated to patient care. Highest stressors included excessive workload, increasing overhead, departmental budget deficits, tenure and promotion, disputes with the dean, and loss of key faculty. Personal-professional life imbalance was identified as an important risk factor for emotional exhaustion. Withdrawal, irritability, and family disagreements are early warning indicators of burnout and emotional exhaustion. Orthopaedic leaders can learn, and potentially model, ways to mitigate stress from other high-stress professions. Building on the strength of marital and family bonds, improving stress management skills and self-regulation, and improving efficiency and productivity can combine to assist the orthopaedic surgery leader in preventing burnout and emotional exhaustion.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Virginia, PO Box 800159, Charlottesville, VA, 22908-0159, USA

    Khaled J. Saleh MD, MSc, FRCSC, FACS & Wendy M. Novicoff PhD

  2. The University of Texas at Arlington, Goolsby Leadership Academy, Arlington, TX, USA

    James Campbell Quick

  3. Lancaster University School of Management, Lancaster, UK

    James Campbell Quick

  4. Department of Health and Human Performance, University of Nebraska Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA

    Wesley E. Sime

  5. Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA

    Thomas A. Einhorn MD

Authors
  1. Khaled J. Saleh MD, MSc, FRCSC, FACS
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  2. James Campbell Quick
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  3. Wesley E. Sime
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  4. Wendy M. Novicoff PhD
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  5. Thomas A. Einhorn MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Khaled J. Saleh MD, MSc, FRCSC, FACS.

Additional information

Each author certifies that he or she has no commercial associations (eg, consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted manuscript.

Each author certifies that his or her institution has approved or waived the human protocol for this investigation and that all investigations were conducted in conformity with ethical principles of research.

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Saleh, K.J., Quick, J.C., Sime, W.E. et al. Recognizing and Preventing Burnout among Orthopaedic Leaders. Clin Orthop Relat Res 467, 558–565 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-008-0622-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-008-0622-8

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