BURNOUT AND ITS CORRELATES IN EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS - 4 YEARS EXPERIENCE WITH A WELLNESS BOTH

Objective: To measure the degree of burnout among emergency physicians (EPs) and to identify and rank predictive factors. Methods: Using the Maslach Burnout Inventory as well as a 79-item questionnaire, a cross -sectional survey was conducted for physician registrants at the Annua l Scientific Assemblies of the American College of Emergency Physician s from 1992 to 1995. Degrees of burnout were stratified into low, mode rate, and high ranges. Univariate and stepwise multiple regression ana lyses were conducted to identify and rank correlates to burnout scores . Results: Of 1,272 registrants taking the inventory, 60% registered i n the moderate to high burnout ranges. Twenty-one correlates were iden tified. These were classified broadly in terms of negative perceptions of self, negative practice habits and attitudes, and unhealthy lifest yles. The most highly ranked correlates were: self-recognition of burn out, lack of job involvement, negative self-assessment of productivity , dissatisfaction with career, sleep disturbances, increased number of shifts per month, dissatisfaction with specialty services, intent to leave the practice within 10 years, higher levels of alcohol consumpti on, and lower levels of exercise. Age and years of practice were not s ignificant predictors of burnout. Projected attrition rates were 7.5% over 5 years and 25% over 10 years. Conclusions: Elevated levels of bu rnout exist among a substantial percentage of surveyed EPs. However, t here is evidence for a ''survivor'' category of practitioners for whom burnout either does not develop or is a reversible process. The proje cted attrition rate over 5 and 10 years appears to be no greater than that of the average medical specialty.