Deborah Schofield, C Lynn Chevalier, Laurence Court, William Harmsen, Akiva Turner
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Burnout is a work-related syndrome characterized by increased levels of emotional exhaustion (EE) and depersonalization (DP) along with decreased levels of personal achievement. In the healthcare setting, higher burnout levels have been associated with negative impacts on personnel, an increased risk of errors, and a decrease in the quality of delivered care.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of burnout among medical physicists working in the United States. Additionally, the impact of personal and organizational features on burnout risk was examined.
Methods: The anonymous survey was distributed to 1962 full members of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine. The survey consisted of seven demographic questions, the validated Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), and an organizational assessment tool. Burnout risk was evaluated using two different scoring methods. Inferential statistics were employed to examine the relationship between burnout and personal features, such as practiced sub-specialty, and organizational features, including the respondent's assigned facility safety score.
Results: A total of 337 responses were received, and 59.9% of medical physicist participants scored high on at least one burnout domain. A statistically significant association was found between the EE and DP burnout domains and personal factors, including working as a therapy medical physicist, working longer hours, and a moderate or significant impact on work-related feelings due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A statistically significant relationship was identified between all three burnout domains and the respondent's assigned facility safety score. Amongst therapy physicists, an inverse relationship was observed between all three burnout domains and both the teamwork and staffing constructs, as well as the open communication and punitive concerns construct.
Conclusions: Medical physicists in the United States are experiencing significant levels of burnout. Importantly, this study identified a link between quantitative burnout scores and facility safety, stressing the importance of addressing burnout.
期刊介绍:
Journal of Applied Clinical Medical Physics is an international Open Access publication dedicated to clinical medical physics. JACMP welcomes original contributions dealing with all aspects of medical physics from scientists working in the clinical medical physics around the world. JACMP accepts only online submission.
JACMP will publish:
-Original Contributions: Peer-reviewed, investigations that represent new and significant contributions to the field. Recommended word count: up to 7500.
-Review Articles: Reviews of major areas or sub-areas in the field of clinical medical physics. These articles may be of any length and are peer reviewed.
-Technical Notes: These should be no longer than 3000 words, including key references.
-Letters to the Editor: Comments on papers published in JACMP or on any other matters of interest to clinical medical physics. These should not be more than 1250 (including the literature) and their publication is only based on the decision of the editor, who occasionally asks experts on the merit of the contents.
-Book Reviews: The editorial office solicits Book Reviews.
-Announcements of Forthcoming Meetings: The Editor may provide notice of forthcoming meetings, course offerings, and other events relevant to clinical medical physics.
-Parallel Opposed Editorial: We welcome topics relevant to clinical practice and medical physics profession. The contents can be controversial debate or opposed aspects of an issue. One author argues for the position and the other against. Each side of the debate contains an opening statement up to 800 words, followed by a rebuttal up to 500 words. Readers interested in participating in this series should contact the moderator with a proposed title and a short description of the topic