Although some resident physicians experience more stress the more hours they work per week, a recent study found no significant association between burnout and weekly average hours worked in their programs.
In a clinical trial that assessed well-being interventions among resident physicians, researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison tested how an increase in weekly work hours was associated with stress, burnout and self-perceived competency among residents in high-burnout specialties.
Three medical specialties were included — emergency, family and internal medicine — as well as 10 surgery specialties.
Among 540 residents who responded to the online survey in the first half of 2024, the average number of hours worked per week was 65.4. From the survey results, the researchers assessed burnout, stress levels and self-perceived competency.
They found each 10-hour increase in average work hours was not associated with more burnout but was associated with higher stress levels and increased self-assessed competency milestones.
“Resident burnout is influenced by more than just [the] number of hours worked — it depends on what occurs during work hours, life outside of work, an individual’s relationship to work, and the organizational culture and broader systems within which residents work,” the researchers said.
The researchers published their findings Jan. 14 in JAMA Network.
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