Burnout and depression make surgeons more prone to mistakes
Burnout is common among surgeons and the results can be harmful for patients, new research suggests.
In a survey of 7,900 surgeons, 9 percent said they had committed a major medical error in the last three months, according to the study by researchers from Johns Hopkins and the Mayo Clinic.
Surgeons who reported burnout or depression said they were more likely to commit medical mistakes, according to the study appearing in the Annals of Surgery. Overall, 40 percent of surgeons who responded to the survey said they were burned out.
And here's a fascinating point that drives home the big picture: while surgeons don't appear to make more errors than other doctors, the consequences of these mistakes can be more severe, the article says. Some estimate that as many as 10 percent of patients are affected by such errors.
The survey, commissioned by the American College of Surgeons, asked participants about emotional exhaustion and questions that screened for depression.
Because the survey relied on self-reporting, the study has a major limitation, the authors acknowledged: It was hard to tell whether depression and burnout led to medical errors or the other way around.
Depression and burnout may be more problematic than fatigue -- often blamed for medical errors, the study concludes. The authors urge surgeons to be on the lookout for colleagues who may need help.
"The most important thing for those of us who work with other surgeons who do not appear well is to address it with them so that they can get the help they need," said Dr. Julie A. Freischlag, one of the study's authors, in a statement.
AP photo
