A nationwide survey of 1,436 US optometrists has found that burnout is widespread across the profession. More than half (53.6%) of respondents reported symptoms that ranged from mild to severe. Among those affected, 61.4% were classified as having mild burnout, 30.4% had moderate burnout, and 8.2% had severe burnout, as classified by the researchers using a modified version of the Mini Z Burnout Survey. They detailed an array of factors—from gender disparities and home life, to work life—that contribute to ODs’ risk of developing burnout. According to the authors, the study represents the first nationwide investigation of burnout among optometrists in the United States.
Gender Disparity
The survey identified significant differences in burnout prevalence by gender. Female optometrists not only reported higher rates of burnout in general than male optometrists (60.9% vs 40.6%), but they also reported higher rates of severe burnout. Multivariable analysis showed that female optometrists had 1.78 times higher odds of mild burnout and 2.16 times higher odds of moderate or severe burnout compared with males.
“This sex disparity is not confined to just eye care,” lead author Kaleb Abbott, OD, MS, FAAO, of the department of ophthalmology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora, Colorado, wrote with colleagues. “Similar disparities have been documented across various medical specialties worldwide.”
At Home
Optometrists with children reported lower burnout rates than those without children (49.6% vs 61%), and in adjusted analyses, respondents without children had more than twice the odds of moderate or severe burnout. Those with moderate commute times (15 to 59 minutes) reported higher burnout rates, while those with commutes of less than 15 minutes or longer than 60 minutes reported lower rates.
At Work
Years in practice showed a nonlinear relationship with burnout. Burnout was less prevalent among optometrists who were in practice for fewer than 5 years (51.1%) and those in practice for 30 years or more (33.7%). Higher rates were observed among midcareer optometrists who were in practice between 5 and 29 years.
Optometrists with burnout reported spending more days per week in clinic and seeing more patients per half day of clinic. Electronic health record (EHR) use also emerged as another factor. Most respondents (93.2%) reported using EHRs, and those who did had higher rates of burnout than those who did not.
Burnout prevalence varied by practice setting. The highest reported burnout rates were among optometrists who practiced in teleoptometry, hospital-based settings, integrated care systems, and departments of ophthalmology.
Dr. Abbott and colleagues also compared optometrist burnout rates with those of ophthalmologists in previous surveys. They found that the prevalence of burnout found by the current optometrist survey (53.6%) was “substantially higher” than it was among ophthalmologists in a survey from before COVID (37.8%).
Future Directions
Dr. Abbott and colleagues suggested that future research could explore the factors that are unique to both women in optometry and to optometrists as a whole—compared with ophthalmologists—that lead to burnout. Research should also develop strategies to combat burnout, such as fostering supportive work environments, promoting work-life balance, and improving job satisfaction, the authors added.
Source: Journal of Optometry