Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society

The Korean Neurosurgical Society (대한신경외과학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

A Study on Work Intensity, Work-Life Balance, and Burnout among Korean Neurosurgeons after the Enactment of the Special Act on Korean Medical Residents

  • Kim, Tae Gon (Department of Neurosurgery, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine)
  • Received : 2020.08.11
  • Accepted : 2020.10.28
  • Published : 2021.07.01
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Objective : Since the enactment of the Special Act on Korean Medical Residents, neurosurgeons working at training hospitals have been performing the duties of residents, in addition to their existing patient care responsibilities, which include surgery, education, and research. This study explores the relationships between work intensity, work-life balance, and burnout experienced by Korean neurosurgeons. Methods : The participants (n=451) were neurosurgeons working at training hospitals throughout Republic of Korea. Data on socio-demographic characteristics (including objective and subjective work environment), work intensity, work-life balance, and burnout were gathered using self-report questionnaires completed between March 1 and December 20, 2019. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent samples t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson's correlations, and multiple regression analysis. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 25 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) was used for the analyses. Results : The work intensity, work-life balance, and burnout levels of neurosurgeons were 3.95, 3.57 (on a scale from 1 to 5) and 4.60 (on a scale from 1 to 7); and 280 (62.1%) of 451 neurosurgeons were found to be experiencing burnout. By controlling for the socio-demographic characteristics, the effects of work intensity and work-life balance on burnout were analyzed. Work intensity (B=0.314), work-life balance-family and leisure (B=0.216), work-life balance-growth (B=0.147), job stress (B=0.133), and satisfaction with human relationships (B=-0.069) were shown to be significant (all p<0.05), and they were found to affect burnout in the abovementioned order. The overall explanatory power was 58.3% (p<0.05), and the explanatory power with the addition of independent variables such as work intensity and work-life balance was 14.5% (p<0.05). Conclusion : This study showed that Korean neurosurgeons working at training hospitals experienced a high level of work intensity and job stress, and low work-life balance. Additionally, nearly half of the neurosurgeons were found to experience burnout related to factors such as work intensity, work-life balance, job stress, and satisfaction with human relationships. In particular, these factors seem to have deteriorated further after the implementation of the Special Act on Korean Medical Residents. These very high levels of burnout among Korean neurosurgeons who care for patients with both brain and spinal diseases may have a very important impact on patients' health. Therefore, it is recommended that the Korean Neurosurgical Society and the Korean government make efforts to improve the factors that affect burnout among Korean neurosurgeons.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This study was supported by a grant from the Policy Research Funds of the Korean Neurosurgical Society.

References

  1. Ahola K, Hakanen J : Job strain, burnout, and depressive symptoms: a prospective study among dentists. J Affect Disord 104 : 103-110, 2007 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2007.03.004
  2. Busis NA, Shanafelt TD, Keran CM, Levin KH, Schwarz HB, Molano JR, et al. : Burnout, career satisfaction, and well-being among US neurologists in 2016. Neurology 88 : 797-808, 2017 https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000003640
  3. Cho KG : Role and effectiveness of nurse practitioner in neurosurgical field. J Korean Neurosurg Soc 25 : 1377-1382, 1996
  4. Choi HY, Chung NW : Perfectionism tendency, social support, and burnout among counselors. Korean J Health Psychol 8 : 279-300, 2003
  5. Janssen O : Job demands, perceptions of effort-reward fairness and innovative work behaviour. J Occup Organ Psychol 73 : 287-302, 2000 https://doi.org/10.1348/096317900167038
  6. Jung TY, Kim EY, Park MS : Herstory of the Korean Women Neurosurgical Society since 2008. J Korean Neurosurg Soc 62 : 619-625, 2019 https://doi.org/10.3340/jkns.2019.0043
  7. Kim JW, Park CY, Son YM, Jang H : The conceptual understanding on 'work-life balance' and its effectiveness. Journal of Leisure Studies 2 : 29-48, 2005
  8. Kim JW, Park JY : A study on the development of a 'work-life balance' scale. Journal of Leisure Studies 5 : 53-69, 2008 https://doi.org/10.22879/SLOS.2008.5.3.53
  9. Lee IH : Easy Flow Regression Analysis. Seoul : Hannarae, 2014
  10. Maslach C, Jackson SE : The measurement of experienced burnout. J Organ Behav 2 : 99-113, 1981 https://doi.org/10.1002/job.4030020205
  11. Maticorena-Quevedo J, Beas R, Anduaga-Beramendi A, Mayta-Tristan P : Prevalence of burnout syndrome in peruvian physicians and nurses, ENSUSALUD 2014. Rev Peru Med Exp Salud Publica 33 : 241-247, 2016 https://doi.org/10.17843/rpmesp.2016.332.2170
  12. Nunnally JC : Psychometric Theory, ed 2. New York : McGraw-Hill, 1978
  13. Panagioti M, Geraghty K, Johnson J, Zhou A, Panagopoulou E, Chew-Graham C, et al. : Association between physician burnout and patient safety, professionalism, and patient satisfaction: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Intern Med 178 : 1317-1331, 2018 https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2018.3713
  14. Pedersen AF, Ingeman ML, Vedsted P : Empathy, burn-out and the use of gut feeling: a cross-sectional survey of Danish general practitioners. BMJ Open 8 : e020007, 2018 https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-020007
  15. Pedersen AF, Sorensen JK, Bruun NH, Christensen B, Vedsted P : Risky alcohol use in Danish physicians: associated with alexithymia and burnout? Drug Alcohol Depend 160 : 119-126, 2016 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.12.038
  16. Rotenstein LS, Torre M, Ramos MA, Rosales RC, Guille C, Sen S, et al. : Prevalence of burnout among physicians: a systematic review. JAMA 320 : 1131-1150, 2018 https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2018.12777
  17. Salvagioni DAJ, Melanda FN, Mesas AE, Gonzalez AD, Gabani FL, Andrade SM : Physical, psychological and occupational consequences of job burnout: a systematic review of prospective studies. PLoS One 12 : e0185781, 2017 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0185781
  18. Shanafelt TD, Hasan O, Dyrbye LN, Sinsky C, Satele D, Sloan J, et al. : Changes in burnout and satisfaction with work-life balance in physicians and the general US working population between 2011 and 2014. Mayo Clin Proc 90 : 1600-1613, 2015 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2015.08.023