Document Type
Review
Disciplines
Higher Education | Medicine and Health Sciences
Abstract
Background. Burnout poses considerable challenges in workplaces, particularly for resident physicians. This intricate phenomenon stems from a myriad of factors that include, but are not limited to, staff shortages, excessive workloads, specific job responsibilities, work environments, and individual psychological factors. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education encourages institutions to incorporate wellness as a fundamental component of residency training programs.
Methods. The aim of this review was to investigate burnout among resident physicians via a comprehensive literature review to elucidate this significant issue and identify potential preventative intervention strategies. We analyzed the issue of burnout across various residency specialties, providing a comprehensive overview of the concept, including its definitions, characteristics, management strategies, survey instruments, and implications for the health and well-being of clinicians.
Results. Using PubMed and the keywords “burnout AND residents”, 45 published studies (26 international; 19 United States) that investigated residency programs that exhibited differing rates of burnout were selected for review, focusing on the prevalence of burnout across specialties and identifying recommended intervention strategies. This review identified a list of validated tools used to measure burnout across diverse specialties, along with a summary of recommended intervention strategies.
Conclusion. By identifying early indicators of burnout through validated instruments and offering appropriate support, healthcare organizations and leadership can effectively reduce the detrimental effects of burnout on clinicians and its subsequent adverse effects on patient care. This is especially vital for the sustainability of hospitals and clinics.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.32873/unmc.dc.gmerj.8.1.001
Keywords
Burnout, graduate medical education, Maslach Burnout Inventor, excessive workload, staff shortages, mental and physical exhaustion
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Obisanya, F., Mncube-Barnes, F., Proctor, K. A., McDaniel, C. A., Alexander, D. M., , Hunter, T. D. A Literature Review of Burnout and Associated Tools in Residency Programs. Graduate Medical Education Research Journal. 2026 May 30; 8(1).
https://digitalcommons.unmc.edu/gmerj/vol8/iss1/1
