Burnout Rate and Risk Factors Among Anesthesiologists in the United States

The bottom line

The strongest lever this national survey points to is workplace support: perceived lack of support was the dominant factor associated with high burnout risk in a large US anesthesiologist sample. That puts leadership behavior and support structures — not individual resilience — at the center of any credible burnout strategy. Because the survey is cross-sectional and coincided with the start of COVID-19, it shows association and a moment in time, not cause and effect.

What the source found

National survey of US anesthesiologists (March 2020, n=approximately 2,400); 59.2% met criteria for high burnout risk; perceived lack of workplace support was the dominant driver; concluded leadership drives culture, culture drives burnout, burnout affects patient care.

Limitations and applicability

Cross-sectional; ASA member respondents may not represent all practice settings; collected March 2020 at COVID-19 onset which may have influenced responses.

Population and setting

U.S. anesthesiologists (ASA member survey)

Used in FairShare guides

• Leadership, Culture, and Fairness

About this evidence

Research question / practical issue

How does this source inform Understanding Anesthesia Burnout and Leadership, Culture, and Fairness for the population it studied?

Study design, evidence tier, and source class

Peer Reviewed Survey Study · primary source · evidence tier 1

Source type: Peer Reviewed Survey Study · primary · Evidence tier 1

Topics: Understanding Anesthesia Burnout, Leadership, Culture, and Fairness

Audience: Anesthesiologists, Department Leaders