Prevalence of and Associations With Distress and Professional Burnout Among Otolaryngologists: Part II, Attending Physicians.

Carlson, Matthew L; Larson, David P; O'Brien, Erin K; Lohse, Christine M; Kircher, Matthew L; Gurgel, Richard K; Hunter, Jacob B; Micco, Alan G; Nogan, Stephen J; O'Connell, Brendan P; Rangarajan, Sanjeet V; Rivas, Alejandro; Sweeney, Alex D; Wanna, George B; Weisskopf, Peter A; Choby, Garret

OBJECTIVE To ascertain the prevalence of and associations with distress and professional burnout among academic otolaryngology attending physicians. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional survey. SETTING Twelve US academic otolaryngology programs. METHODS A questionnaire was administered that encompassed sociodemographic and professional features, the Expanded Physician Well-being Index for distress, the 2-item Maslach Burnout Inventory for professional burnout, the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 screen for major depressive disorder, and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2 screen for generalized anxiety disorder. RESULTS The survey response rate was 56% and included 186 attending physicians. The average respondent age was 47 years; 72% were men; 93% were married or partnered; and 86% had children. Distress was present in 40%, professional burnout in 26%, positive depression screening in 8%, and positive anxiety screening in 11%. In a univariable setting, age, hours worked in a typical week, nights on call in a typical week, and years of practice were significantly associated with distress, although in a multivariable setting, only hours worked in a typical week remained significantly associated with a positive Expanded Physician Well-being Index screen (odds ratio for each 10-hour increase, 2.61; 95% CI, 1.73-3.93; P < .001). In a univariable setting, hours worked in a typical week was significantly associated with a positive Maslach Burnout Inventory screen. CONCLUSION Distress or professional burnout occurs in more than a quarter of academic otolaryngology attending physicians, whereas the prevalence of depression or anxiety is approximately 10%. The number of hours worked per week had the strongest association with distress and burnout. These findings may be used to develop and implement programs to promote physician well-being and mitigate professional burnout.