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CC BY 4.0 · Indian Journal of Neurosurgery
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1806927
Original Article

Impact of Burnout Syndrome among Thai Neurosurgeons: Prevalence, Contributing Factors, and Consequences

Panu Boontoterm 
1   Neurological Surgery Unit, Department of Surgery, Phramongkutklao Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
,
Karanarak Urasyanandana
1   Neurological Surgery Unit, Department of Surgery, Phramongkutklao Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
,
Pusit Fuengfoo
2   Department of Surgery, Phramongkutklao Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
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Abstract

Introduction

Burnout syndrome (BOS) is a work-related condition characterized by emotional exhaustion, chronic stress, and a sense of disillusionment with one's profession. It is particularly prevalent among health care professionals, especially neurosurgeons, and has been linked to higher rates of resignation and reduced job satisfaction. However, the prevalence and impact of BOS specifically among Thai neurosurgeons have not been extensively studied.

Objectives

This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of BOS among Thai neurosurgeons and identify the key risk factors associated with its development.

Methods

This was a multicenter, prospective cross-sectional study conducted across five hospitals in Thailand. Data on BOS were collected through electronic questionnaires administered to Thai neurosurgeons. BOS was assessed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory, which measures burnout across three key dimensions: depersonalization, emotional exhaustion, and reduced personal accomplishment. Variance inflation factors were calculated to assess multicollinearity and ensure the reliability of the logistic regression results.

Results

The overall prevalence of BOS among Thai neurosurgeons was found to be 52%. Multivariate analysis identified several significant risk factors for BOS, including age over 40 years, less than 5 years of experience in neurosurgery, perceived excessive workload, monthly income below 60,000 Baht, consideration of resignation in the past year, a need for more than 2 days of vacation per week, and patient length of stay exceeding 10 days.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated a high prevalence of BOS among Thai neurosurgeons, emphasizing the urgent need for targeted interventions to prevent and address BOS within this group.

Keywords

burnout syndrome - emotion exhaustion - depersonalization - personal accomplishment - neurosurgeons


Publication History

Article published online:
02 April 2025

© 2025. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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