The effect of burnout on postgraduate year‐one pharmacy residents' pursuit of additional training

Abstract

Background: The decision for postgraduate year one (PGY1) pharmacy residents to pursue additional postgraduate training (PGT) is impacted by a variety of internal and external factors. The purpose of this research was to evaluate burnout in PGY1 residents and its impact on the decision to pursue additional PGT, most commonly postgraduate year two (PGY2) training. Methods: Pharmacy residents were surveyed in February and March 2018 regarding burnout, demographics, and intention to pursue additional PGT. Two respondent groups were developed: additional PGT and no additional PGT. Burnout domains (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal fulfillment) and profiles (engaged, ineffective, overextended, disengaged, and burnout) were compared between groups. A multivariable logistic regression was conducted to determine variables associated with additional PGT pursuit. Results: Of 539 PGY1 residents who participated, 313 (58.1%) were in the additional PGT group. Those in the no additional PGT group scored higher in emotional exhaustion (median 24, interquartile range [IQR] 19-29 vs median 21, IQR 17-26)and depersonalization (median 11, IQR 9-13 vs median 11, IQR 9-13) and lower in personal fulfillment (median 14,). Following multivariable logistic regression analysis, not having the burnout profile (odds ratio [OR] 0.53, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.29-0.98) and opportunity to complete PGY2 training at the PGY1 institution (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.23-0.40) were associated with additional PGT pursuit. PGY1 residents in the no additional PGT group were categorized as more frequently having a burnout profile (36.3% vs 23.0%). Conclusion: PGY1 residents pursuing or planning to pursue additional PGT felt less burned out than those not pursuing additional PGT. Opportunity to complete PGY2 training at the resident's PGY1 institution and not having a burnout profile were associated with pursuit of additional PGT. K E Y W O R D S burnout, mental health, pharmacy, residency

Viewpoints of Residency Program Directors Regarding Depressive Symptoms in Pharmacy Residents

“…Research has shown that this leads to burnout in pharmacists, and residents are also at risk either during or after residency. [25][26][27][28] These factors highlight the need for additional preceptor training to address negativity but also a more national conversation regarding not only residencies, but also pharmacy practice. Changes in practice culture will filter down through RPDs and preceptors, ultimately influencing resident wellness (Figure 2).…”

Preparing pharmacy trainees for a future in research and contributing to the medical literature

“…Careful consideration should also be placed on resident burnout when navigating these endeavors, particularly for PGY1s 53 . Assessing the financial burden of presenting these research endeavors at a regional or national level should also be considered by the individual program and reflected in resident funding.…”

Burnout, burnout, burnout is burning me out

“…A Google search yields more than 1.6 million results after typing clinical pharmacist burnout and 11.2 million hits display when the search is expanded to burnout in the medical field. In this edition of JACCP alone, four articles focus on the topic of burnout . Burnout is everywhere!…”

“…We can recognize symptoms, support colleagues who are struggling, research perceptions, and employ strategies to avoid this outcome, but collectively we need to stop acting as if we are experts on every aspect of this topic. Hammond and colleagues and LeDoux and colleagues both surveyed residents on their perceptions of burnout. While perception is that individual's reality, every answer in the surveys that assessed burnout were subjective in nature.…”

“…Look no further than the House of Representatives of the United States to illustrate different views on any given topic. The Hammond article found that postgraduate year one (PGY1) residents that pursued postgraduate year two (PGY2) training were less likely to perceive themselves as burned out than those that did not and suggested that burnout could lead PGY1s to abandon additional residency training . Even though the questions used were based on the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the questions are generally framed negatively such as, “I worry that this job is hardening me emotionally” rather than, “I maintain positivity despite a stressful training program.” It would be interesting to see if results would be the same if questions had a positive structure.…”