Job Satisfaction, Well-Being, and Burnout among Ophthalmology Educators

Karissa N. Sealey; Stephen A. Blatt; Gary L. Legault; Kyle J. Godfrey; Misha F. Syed

doi:10.1055/s-0042-1758566

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology, Table of Contents

CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Journal of Academic Ophthalmology 2023; 15(01): e11-e15
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1758566

Research Article

Job Satisfaction, Well-Being, and Burnout among Ophthalmology Educators

Karissa N. Sealey

¹Department of Graduate Medical Education, San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Consortium, Fort Sam, Houston, Texas

,

Stephen A. Blatt

²Department of Ophthalmology, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Illinois

,

Gary L. Legault

³Department of Ophthalmology, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland

,

Kyle J. Godfrey

⁴Department of Ophthalmology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY; Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY

,

Misha F. Syed

⁵Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Medical Branch - Galveston, Galveston, Texas

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Purpose This article assesses the prevalence of burnout among ophthalmology educators and identifies opportunities to improve well-being in this population.

Methods The research team conducted a cross-sectional study using an institutional review board-exempt survey addressing the domains of the Maslach Burnout Inventory, intent to leave, and interest in wellness activities. Survey participants included ophthalmology residency program directors (PDs) and associate PDs (APDs) who are members of the Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology (AUPO). Analysis involved a top-box approach.

Results Surveys were sent to 175 members with a response rate of 38.9%. Percentages of survey respondents reporting either (1) “never” or (2) “less than a few times per year” when asked to self-assess for certain manifestations of burnout are as follows: “considering residents as impersonal objects” (95.2%), “becoming more callous towards people” (90.3%), and “becoming emotionally hardened” (80.6%). Approximately 65% of ophthalmology educators reported never considering or rarely considering leaving their position in the year prior to completing the survey. For wellness promotion among AUPO educators, the greatest interest was in small group mentoring sessions (85%) and webinars on wellness-related topics (70%).

Conclusion The prevalence of burnout symptoms among ophthalmology educators compares favorably to educators from other specialties. Ophthalmology PDs and APDs demonstrate a greater degree of personal accomplishment than do their cohorts within other specialties, suggesting a decreased likelihood of burnout onset among ophthalmology educators. Furthermore, our study's job satisfaction data reveal a high degree of satisfaction among ophthalmology PDs and APDs.

Keywords

ophthalmology educators - burnout - wellness - survey study

Full Text

References

References
1 Common program requirements - acgme.org. Published July 1, 2021. Accessed February 23, 2022, at: https://www.acgme.org/globalassets/PFAssets/ProgramRequirements/CPRResidency2021.pdf
2 Burnout Definition & Meaning. Merriam-Webster. Accessed September 27, 2022, at: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/burnout
3 Maslach C, Jackson SE, Leiter MP. Maslach Burnout Inventory Manual: Christina Maslach, Susan E. Jackson, Michael P. Leiter. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press; 1998
4 Gerada C. Doctors and suicide. Br J Gen Pract 2018; 68 (669) 168-169
5 Keyser EA, Weir LF, Valdez MM, Aden JK, Matos RI. Extending peer support across the Military Health System to decrease clinician burnout. Mil Med 2021; 186 (Suppl. 01) 153-159
6 De Oliveira Jr GS, Almeida MD, Ahmad S, Fitzgerald PC, McCarthy RJ. Anesthesiology residency program director burnout. J Clin Anesth 2011; 23 (03) 176-182
7 Cruz OA, Pole CJ, Thomas SM. Burnout in chairs of academic departments of ophthalmology. Ophthalmology 2007; 114 (12) 2350-2355
8 De Oliveira Jr GS, Ahmad S, Stock MC. et al. High incidence of burnout in academic chairpersons of anesthesiology: should we be taking better care of our leaders?. Anesthesiology 2011; 114 (01) 181-193
9 Porter M, Hagan H, Klassen R, Yang Y, Seehusen DA, Carek PJ. Burnout and resiliency among family medicine program directors. Fam Med 2018; 50 (02) 106-112
10 O'Connor AB, Halvorsen AJ, Cmar JM. et al. Internal medicine residency program director burnout and program director turnover: results of a national survey. Am J Med 2019; 132 (02) 252-261
11 Shanafelt TD, Boone S, Tan L. et al. Burnout and satisfaction with work-life balance among US physicians relative to the general US population. Arch Intern Med 2012; 172 (18) 1377-1385
12 Dyrbye LN, West CP, Satele D. et al. Burnout among U.S. medical students, residents, and early career physicians relative to the general U.S. population. Acad Med 2014; 89 (03) 443-451
13 Sedhom JA, Patnaik JL, McCourt EA. et al. Physician burnout in ophthalmology: U.S. survey. J Cataract Refract Surg 2022; 48 (06) 723-729
14 Scheepers RA, Emke H, Epstein RM, Lombarts KMJMH. The impact of mindfulness-based interventions on doctors' well-being and performance: a systematic review. Med Educ 2020; 54 (02) 138-149
15 Romani M, Ashkar K. Burnout among physicians. Libyan J Med 2014; 9 (01) 23556