CAN COLONOSCOPY BE RELATED WHITH GASTROENTEROLOGIST´S BURNOUT? A PRACTICAL STUDY

Aims Burnout syndrome can affect several elements of a clinical team, compromising their health and leading to additional difficulties in current clinical activity.

Methods A descriptive, prospective observational study using a Google form, made available online to a comprehensive number of Gastroenterologists between 2/5/2019 and 4/13/2019. Copenhagen Burnout Inventory questionnaire validated for the Portuguese population was used to estimate burnout levels among the individuals.

Results 52 gastroenterologists answered the questionnaire (female 53.8%; mean age 44.9 ± 7 years). Of these, 22 (42.3%) showed some levels of burnout syndrome (16 moderate burnout; 6 high burnout). 47 out of 52 doctors, performed colonoscopy on a regular basis. This endoscopic procedure proved to be a relevant variable in the development of higher Burnout scores (p < 0.032): Md = 46.0 (13–93) vs. Md = 16 (0–54). Of the 52 individuals, 6 (11.5%) are/were involved in forensic proceedings, which might lead to a higher prevalence of burnout (Med 71 ± 12.5 p < 0.007).

In the individual analysis of the burnout scales, there are statistically significant differences regarding the personal (p < 0.011) and work-related (p < 0.045) burnout scores: Md = 46 (17–96) and Md = 50 (14–96) personal and work-related burnout score, respectively. The average number of weekly endoscopic examinations proved to be an important factor (p < 0.048): Md = 35.00 (10–100) vs. Md = 20 (0–40). Of the 21 (40.4%) individuals who responded that they would change jobs, all of them perform colonoscopies.

Conclusions The prevalence of burnout in gastroenterologists is high and several factors seem to contribute to this problem, including colonoscopies, the high number of techniques per week as well as the involvement in forensic proceedings. It is extremely important to be aware of such problem and identify its associated factors in order to act preventively and develop coping strategies.