FairShare evidence summary
U.S. Attending Anesthesiologist Burnout in the Postpandemic Era
Original source published:
The bottom line
Anesthesiologist burnout worsened sharply after the pandemic — over two-thirds at high risk — and the factors respondents said would help most are ones leaders control: schedule flexibility, workplace culture, and visible support. With burnout also higher among those likely to leave, this positions burnout mitigation as retention strategy. Cross-sectional ASA-member data captures association at one difficult moment, not causation.
What the source found
National survey of 2,698 U.S. anesthesiologist ASA members (November 2022); 67.7% at high risk for burnout and 18.9% met full burnout syndrome criteria — up sharply from 2020; strongest associated factor was perceived lack of support at work; 78.4% experienced staffing shortages; anesthesiologists likely to leave had higher burnout; schedule flexibility, workplace culture, and leadership support cited by ~50% as what would help.
Limitations and applicability
Cross-sectional survey; ASA member sample may not represent all practice settings; collected late 2022, results may reflect postpandemic conditions.
Population and setting
U.S. attending anesthesiologists (ASA member survey, n=2,698)
Used in FairShare guides
About this evidence
Research question / practical issue
How does this source inform Understanding Anesthesia Burnout and Leadership, Culture, and Fairness and Retention and the Anesthesia Workforce 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, Retention and the Anesthesia Workforce
Audience: Anesthesiologists, Department Leaders, Wellness Leaders