Repeated Cross-sectional Surveys of Burnout, Distress, and Depression among Anesthesiology Residents and First-year Graduates

The bottom line

Half of anesthesiology residents met burnout criteria in this large multi-year sample, but the protective factors — perceived institutional support, social support, and work-life balance — are things programs can actually influence. Notably, workload and debt predicted distress and depression more than burnout, so different problems need different fixes. Cross-sectional snapshots of one training cohort era limit causal claims.

What the source found

Repeated cross-sectional survey of US anesthesiology residents entering training 2013–2016 (n=5,295); burnout prevalence 51%, distress 32%, depression 12%; perceived institutional/social support and work-life balance protective; heavier workload and debt predicted distress and depression but not burnout specifically.

Limitations and applicability

Cross-sectional at each timepoint; residents entering training in one 3-year period; self-reported measures.

Population and setting

U.S. anesthesiology residents (multi-year national sample)

Used in FairShare guides

• Understanding Anesthesia Burnout

About this evidence

Research question / practical issue

How does this source inform Understanding Anesthesia Burnout for the population it studied?

Study design, evidence tier, and source class

Peer Reviewed Repeated Cross Sectional Survey · primary source · evidence tier 1

Source type: Peer Reviewed Repeated Cross Sectional Survey · primary · Evidence tier 1

Topics: Understanding Anesthesia Burnout

Audience: Residents