Filippo Sanfilippo1, Alberto Noto2, Gaetano J Palumbo3, Mariachiara Ippolito4, Mariapia Gagliardone5, Maria Scarlata6, Elena Bignami7, Fabio Sangalli8, Sergio Cattaneo9, Ilaria Blangetti10, Sabino Scolletta11, Alessandro Locatelli10, Luigi Tritapepe12, Ferdinando L Lorini9, Antonio Arcadipane6. 1. Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, IRCCS-ISMETT (Istituto Mediterraneo per i Trapianti e Terapie ad alta specializzazione), Palermo, Italy. Electronic address: filipposanfi@yahoo.it. 2. Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Policlinico Universitario G. Martino, University of Messina, Messina, Italy. 3. School of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, University of Catania, Catania, Italy. 4. Department of Biopathology and Medical Biotechnologies (DIBIMED), Section of Anesthesia Analgesia Intensive Care and Emergency. Policlinico P. Giaccone, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy. 5. Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Unit, Transplant Center and De Gasperis Cardio Center, Niguarda Hospital, Milan, Italy. 6. Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, IRCCS-ISMETT (Istituto Mediterraneo per i Trapianti e Terapie ad alta specializzazione), Palermo, Italy. 7. Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine Division, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy. 8. Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy. 9. Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy. 10. Department of Emergency and Critical Care, Santa Croce e Carle Hospital, Cuneo, Italy. 11. Unit of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medical Biotechnologies, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Siena, Italy. 12. Department of Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Nephrological, Anaesthetic and Geriatric Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: There is increasing burnout incidence among medical disciplines, and physicians working in emergency settings seem at higher risk. Cardiac anesthesiology is a stressful anesthesiology subspecialty dealing with high-risk patients. The authors hypothesized a high risk of burnout in cardiac anesthesiologists. DESIGN: National survey conducted on burnout. SETTING: Italian cardiac centers. PARTICIPANTS: Cardiac anesthesiologists. INTERVENTIONS: The authors administered via email an anonymous questionnaire divided into 3 parts. The first 2 parts evaluated workload and private life. The third part consisted of the Maslach Burnout Inventory test with its 3 constituents: high emotional exhaustion, high depersonalization, and low personal accomplishment. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The authors measured the prevalence and risk of burnout through the Maslach Burnout Inventory questionnaire and analyzed factors influencing burnout. Among 670 contacts from 71 centers, 382 cardiac anesthesiologists completed the survey (57%). The authors found the following mean Maslach Burnout Inventory values: 14.5 ± 9.7 (emotional exhaustion), 9.1 ± 7.1 (depersonalization), and 33.7 ± 8.9 (personal accomplishment). A rate of 34%, 54%, and 66% of respondents scored in "high" or "moderate-high" risk of burnout (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment, respectively). The authors found that, if offered to change subspecialty, 76% of respondents would prefer to remain in cardiac anesthesiology. This preference and parenthood were the only 2 investigated factors with a protective effect against all components of burnout. Significantly lower burnout scores were found in more experienced anesthesiologists. CONCLUSION: A relatively high incidence of burnout was found in cardiac anesthesiologists, especially regarding high depersonalization and low personal accomplishment. Nonetheless, most of the respondents would choose to remain in cardiac anesthesiology.
OBJECTIVE: There is increasing burnout incidence among medical disciplines, and physicians working in emergency settings seem at higher risk. Cardiac anesthesiology is a stressful anesthesiology subspecialty dealing with high-risk patients. The authors hypothesized a high risk of burnout in cardiac anesthesiologists. DESIGN: National survey conducted on burnout. SETTING: Italian cardiac centers. PARTICIPANTS: Cardiac anesthesiologists. INTERVENTIONS: The authors administered via email an anonymous questionnaire divided into 3 parts. The first 2 parts evaluated workload and private life. The third part consisted of the Maslach Burnout Inventory test with its 3 constituents: high emotional exhaustion, high depersonalization, and low personal accomplishment. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The authors measured the prevalence and risk of burnout through the Maslach Burnout Inventory questionnaire and analyzed factors influencing burnout. Among 670 contacts from 71 centers, 382 cardiac anesthesiologists completed the survey (57%). The authors found the following mean Maslach Burnout Inventory values: 14.5 ± 9.7 (emotional exhaustion), 9.1 ± 7.1 (depersonalization), and 33.7 ± 8.9 (personal accomplishment). A rate of 34%, 54%, and 66% of respondents scored in "high" or "moderate-high" risk of burnout (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment, respectively). The authors found that, if offered to change subspecialty, 76% of respondents would prefer to remain in cardiac anesthesiology. This preference and parenthood were the only 2 investigated factors with a protective effect against all components of burnout. Significantly lower burnout scores were found in more experienced anesthesiologists. CONCLUSION: A relatively high incidence of burnout was found in cardiac anesthesiologists, especially regarding high depersonalization and low personal accomplishment. Nonetheless, most of the respondents would choose to remain in cardiac anesthesiology.
Authors: Filippo Sanfilippo; Gaetano Joseph Palumbo; Alberto Noto; Salvatore Pennisi; Mirko Mineri; Francesco Vasile; Veronica Dezio; Diana Busalacchi; Paolo Murabito; Marinella Astuto Journal: Rev Bras Ter Intensiva Date: 2020 Jul-Sep