Assessing Burnout Amongst Interventional Radiology Trainees

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

10:30 AM – 10:39 AM CT

Location: Music City Center, 205 BC

Presenting Author(s)

Nicholas Lima

Medical Student
Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, United States

Author/Co-author(s)

KD

Kale Davidson, DO

Resident
Department of Radiology, Section of Interventional Radiology, University of Texas Health and Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
VB

Vikrant Bhatnagar, DO, MBA

Resident
Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, United States
Gregg Khodorov, MD, MBA (he/him/his)

PGY-5 Integrated Diagnostic/Interventional Radiology Resident
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Department of Radiology, United States
Hank Bryant, MD

PGY-4 IR/DR Resident
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, United States
Rick K. Hoffer, MD

Interventional Radiologist
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, United States

Purpose: To characterize the prevalence and factors associated with burnout among interventional radiology (IR) trainees using an anonymous 33-question survey (including the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) (1,2) and questions on demographics, training pathways, Imposter syndrome, and future practice preferences), with the goal of informing interventions to improve trainee well-being and career satisfaction.

Materials and Methods: After IRB approval, the survey was distributed to IR residents across the United States. Burnout was measured across three domains via the validated MBI survey tool: emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and personal achievement (PA). Burnout was defined as high (EE ≥ 27 or DP ≥10), moderate (EE 19-26 or DP 6-9), or low (EE ≤18 or DP ≤5) (1). PA was not utilized in analysis of burnout (1). Analyses were performed to assess associations between each burnout category (EE, DP, PA) and non-MBI survey variables. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05.

Results: 97 survey responses were completed by IR trainees from all training pathways and post-graduate year levels. 72 (74.2%) of respondents identified as male, 24 (24.7%) as female, and 1 preferred not to say (1.0%). 55 (56.7%) identified as White/Caucasian, 24 (24.7%) as Asian, 3 (3.09%) as Black/African American, and 15 (15.5%) as another ethnicity/did not respond. Mean scores for EE, DP, and PA were 21.8 ± 11.6, 9.3 ± 6.1, and 36.9 ± 8.2. A degree of high burnout was present in 85 (87.6%) participants. Both EE and DP were high in 30 (30.9%), moderate in 6 (6.2%), and low in 23 (23.7%) of responders. There was a positive correlation between DP and EE scores (p< 0.01). Trainees with high DP scores were more likely to have completed a surgical internship (p=0.00081). Increased desire to change specialities from IR was associated with high EE scores (p=0.022). Increased occurrence of Imposter Syndrome was associated with high EE scores (p=0.036). Increased preference for a higher percentage of IR practice was associated with decreased likelihood of wanting to switch out of IR (p=0.0002).

Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first study that has assessed burnout in IR residents. Mean EE and DP were suggestive of moderate burnout, with 87.6% of trainees experiencing a degree of high burnout. Surgical internships were correlated with higher DP scores, while increased EE was associated with a greater desire to switch specialties and higher rates of Imposter Syndrome. Conversely, a strong preference for a more procedural IR career after graduation was associated with a decreased likelihood of switching specialties.