Survey shows 25% of nephrology fellows experience burnout, but also have good job satisfaction and work-life balance

BOSTON — About 25% of nephrology fellows experienced burnout, including emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, while on the job, according to results of a survey presented here.

However, about 60% of the respondents to the 2018 survey sent by the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) reported that they felt they worked in a medical school program with strong leadership, had good career satisfaction, and experienced a good balance in their work and home life.

The survey, assembled by researchers from the University of Vermont, Duke University, Johns Hopkins, Vanderbilt University, Henry Ford Hospital and Georgetown University, was an addendum to a survey sent out each spring by the ASN to fellows and included questions about depression, burnout and well-being.

“Physician burnout and emotional distress have been associated with work dissatisfaction and suboptimal care,” Varun Agrawal, MD, assistant professor of medicine in nephrology at the University of Vermont Medical Center, wrote with colleagues. “Little is known about burnout in nephrology fellows.”

Varun Agrawal

Burnout was defined in the survey as a positive response to single-item measures of emotional exhaustion or depersonalization.

The survey was sent to 1,329 fellows between May 2018 and June 2018. The response rate was 37.2% and included fellows in their first and second years. Most of the 401 surveys reviewed by the researchers showed that 81.5% of the fellows were in clinical nephrology, with 15% in research nephrology. Of the respondents, 56.7% were male.

In the survey, 38% of fellows said they experienced a “disruptive work environment,” while 31.2% screened positive for depression.

Disruptive behavior may be about a fellow who had an encounter with another physician that is “out-of-line of respectable behavior expected of a physician,” the researchers wrote. Finding such a high percentage “is a bit concerning,” said Agrawal, “but it is something that can be fixed.”

The higher rate of female fellows who experienced disruptive behavior did tie in with their experiences of burnout, he said.

“Efforts toward address burnout in women, disruption in work environments and work life balance (eg, by ensuring reasonable workload, constructive and supportive program leadership and adequate social support) may enhance the experience and emotional well-being of nephrology fellows,” the researchers wrote. – by Mark E. Neumann

Reference:

Agrawal V, et al. Poster #428. Presented at: National Kidney Foundation Spring Clinical Meetings; May 8-12, 2019; Boston

Disclosure: Agrawal reports no relevant financial disclosures.