Transition to Independent Surgical Practice and Burnout Among Early Career General Surgeons. (April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Firdouse, Mohammed; Chrystoja, Caitlin; de Montbrun, Sandra; Escallon, Jaime; Cil, Tulin
• Is Part Of: Surgical innovation. Volume 29:Number 2(2022)
• Page Start: 249
• Page End: 257
• Publication Date: 2022-04
• Subjects: general surgery -- residency -- transition -- burnout -- stress -- independent practice; Surgery, Operative -- Periodicals; Endoscopic surgery -- Periodicals; Laparoscopic surgery -- Periodicals; Surgical Procedures, Operative -- Periodicals; Surgical Procedures, Minimally Invasive -- Periodicals; Diffusion of Innovation -- Periodicals; Chirurgie opératoire -- Périodiques; Chirurgie endoscopique -- Périodiques; Chirurgie laparoscopique -- Périodiques; 617.91
• DOI: 10.1177/15533506211039682
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1553-3506

Abstract

Background : The transition from surgical residency to independent practice is a challenging period that has not been well studied. Methods : An email invitation to complete a 55-item survey and the Maslach Burnout Inventory–Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) was sent to early career general surgeons across Canada. The chi-square test or Fisher's exact test was used to compare demographic and survey characteristics with burnout. Multivariable logistic regression was performed. Results : Of the 586 surgeons contacted, 88 responded (15%); 51/88 surgeons (58.0%) were classified as burnt out according to the MBI-HSS. Most surgeons (68.2%) were not confident in their abilities to handle the business aspect of practice. The majority (60.2%) believed that a transition to independent practice program would be beneficial to recent surgical graduates. Conclusions : Our data showed high prevalence of burnout among recently graduated general surgeons across Canada. Further, respondents were not confident in their managerial and administrative skills required to run a successful independent practice.