Burnout in Graduate Medical Education: Uncovering Resident Burnout Profiles Using Cluster Analysis

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2024

DOI

10.36518/2689-0216.1784

Publication Title

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Volume

5

Issue

3

Pages

237-250

Abstract

Background

Burnout is common among residents and negatively impacts patient care and professional development. Residents vary in terms of their experience of burnout. Our objective was to employ cluster analysis, a statistical method of separating participants into discrete groups based on response patterns, to uncover resident burnout profiles using the exhaustion and engagement sub-scales of the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI) in a cross-sectional, multispecialty survey of United States medical residents.

Methods

The 2017 ACGME resident survey provided residents with an optional, anonymous addendum containing 3 engagement and 3 exhaustion items from the OBLI, a 2-item depression screen (PHQ-2), general queries about health and satisfaction, and whether respondents would still choose medicine as a career. Gaussian finite mixture models were fit to exhaustion and disengagement scores, with the resultant clusters compared across PHQ-2 depression screen results. Other variables were used to demonstrate evidence for the validity and utility of this approach.

Results

From 14 088 responses, 4 clusters were identified as statistically and theoretically distinct: Highly Engaged (25.8% of respondents), Engaged (55.2%), Disengaged (9.4%), and Highly Exhausted (9.5%). Only 2% of Highly Engaged respondents screened positive for depression, compared with 8% of Engaged respondents, 29% of Disengaged respondents, and 53% of Highly Exhausted respondents. Similar patterns emerged for the general query about health, satisfaction, and whether respondents would choose medicine as a career again.

Conclusion

Clustering based on exhaustion and disengagement scores differentiated residents into 4 meaningful groups. Interventions that mitigate resident burnout should account for differences among clusters.

Rights

© HCA Healthcare Physician Services, Inc., All rights reserved.

The following uses are granted to the authors by Emerald Medical Education and do not require further permission provided the authors do not alter the format or content of the articles, including the copyright notification:

Posting of the article on the internet as part of a non-commercial open access institutional repository or other non-commercial open access publication site affiliated with the authors' place of employment.

Original Publication Citation

Yaghmour, Nicholas A.; Savage, Nastassia M.; Rockey, Paul H.; Santen, Sally A.; DeCarlo, Kristen E.; Hickam, Grace; Schwartzberg, Joanne G.; Baldwin, DeWitt C. Jr.; and Perera, Robert A. (2024) "Burnout in Graduate Medical Education: Uncovering Resident Burnout Profiles Using Cluster Analysis," HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine, 5(3), Article 9. https://doi.org/10.36518/2689-0216.1784

Available at: https://scholarlycommons.hcahealthcare.com/hcahealthcarejournal/vol5/iss3/9

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