Burnout at a tertiary eye care center significantly higher after the start of COVID-19

Objective

To better understand the burnout rates among ophthalmologists before and after the start of COVID-19 in the United States.

Design

Retrospective observational study integrating cross-sectional data from annual faculty surveys conducted in 2018, 2021, and 2022, plus a separate, single-item burnout survey administered prospectively in 2022 and repeated six months later to faculty members, trainees, and staff members.

Subjects

University of Michigan faculty, trainees, and staff at a tertiary eye care center (Kellogg Eye Center), and Women in Ophthalmology (WIO) members.

Methods

A validated, single-item burnout assessment on a 5-point scale was electronically distributed to WIO and Kellogg physicians and staff in late 2022. Links to wellness resources were provided at submission. The survey was redistributed after six months, with an added question on resource utilization. Responses were compared to Kellogg's Annual Faculty Survey in 2018, 2021, and 2022, which included the same single-item burnout measure. All responses to the single-item scale were dichotomized based on presence of burnout. Self-reported wellness resource utilization was also assessed.

Outcomes

Self-reported measures of burnout.

Results

A total of 73, 91, and 81 ophthalmologists on faculty completed the Annual Faculty Survey in 2018, 2021 and 2022, representing a response rate of 64 %, 79 %, and 69 %. The response rate for the single-item survey sent to Kellogg among ophthalmologists in 2022 was 43 %. The Kellogg ophthalmologist burnout rate in 2018 was 39.7 % and was significantly higher in 2021 at 70.3 % (p = 0.0001), and in 2022 at 70.4 %. Burnout rates amongst WIO members and Kellogg ophthalmologists were similar. While no respondents to the single-item survey in 2018 reported the most severe burnout score, in 2021, responses shifted to include the most severe answers. Some respondents reported utilizing wellness resources, follow-up results did not demonstrate significantly decreased burnout in any group.

Conclusions

In 2018, ophthalmologists’ burnout rates at this academic eye center were in line with national averages. However, a significant increase in burnout was seen in 2021 onwards, with a shift towards more severe burnout responses. Though numerous factors may account for these changes, COVID-19 may be a significant contributor. Future work may focus on specific contributors to increased rates of burnout amongst ophthalmologists.