Burnout among specialists and trainees in physical medicine and rehabilitation: A systematic review

Abstract

Objective: Burnout, a state of emotional exhaustion related to work or patient-care activities, is prevalent in all stages of medical training and clinical practice. The syndrome has serious consequences, including medical errors, poorer quality of care, substance abuse, and suicide. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of burnout in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) specialists and trainees. Methods: Systematic literature searches were conducted in MEDLINE, CINAHL and EMBASE for peer-reviewed articles in English before March 2019 about the prevalence of burnout amongst PM&R specialists and trainees. Results: This systematic review yielded 359 results. Of these, 33 full-text records were reviewed; 5 met the inclusion criteria: 3 surveys of PM&R specialists and 2 of PM&R residents (total n = 1,886 physicians; year of publication 2012–2019). Data extracted included prevalence and severity of burnout and, if available, risk or protective factors. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Incidence of burnout ranged from 22.2% to 83.3% in trainees and 48% to 62% in specialists. Organizational and system challenges were the primary risk factors for burnout amongst specialists. Conclusion: Emerging evidence positions physicians in PM&R among the most likely to experience burnout. Although there is limited literature regarding PM&R specialists and trainees, the available evidence suggests that more than half of physicians in PM&R experience burnout.