Burnout among Lithuanian Cardiac Surgeons and Cardiac Anesthesiologists

Objective. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of burnout among Lithuanian cardiac surgeons and cardiac anesthesiologists, and associations between burnout and the personal and professional characteristics of physicians.
Material and Methods. A total of 29 cardiac surgeons and 30 cardiac anesthesiologists employed in Vilnius and Kaunas university hospitals as well as in Klaipėda Hospital were surveyed. Data on personal characteristics (age, gender, marital status, number of children, sleeping hours, and addictions), professional characteristics (years in practice, work character, work profile, and workload), career satisfaction, and symptoms of depression were collected by using an anonymous questionnaire. Burnout was measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS).
Results. More than half (54.3%) of the physicians surveyed had been in practice for >15 years, 71.2% reported working more than 40 hours per week, and 62% reported of being burned out. As much as 19.3% of physicians reported high emotional exhaustion, 25.9% had high depersonalization, and 42.3% demonstrated low personal accomplishment at work. Nearly 95% of respondents would become a physician and 82.8% would choose to become a cardiac surgeon or a cardiac anesthesiologist again. Physicians who worked more than 40 hours per week, smokers, and those who were desperate were more likely to be burned out.
Conclusions. Burnout was found to be prevalent among Lithuanian cardiac surgeons and cardiac anesthesiologists. Some personal and professional characteristics were significantly related to burnout. Burnout relief measures should be developed in order to prevent a further increase of burnout syndrome among Lithuanian cardiac surgeons and cardiac anesthesiologists.