Stress, burnout, depression and work satisfaction among UK anaesthetic trainees: a qualitative analysis of in-depth participant interviews in the Satisfaction and Wellbeing in Anaesthetic Training study

E Wainwright, A Looseley, R Mouton, M O'Connor, G Taylor, T.M Cook

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Anaesthetists experience unique stressors. Recent evidence suggests a high prevalence of stress and burnout in trainee anaesthetists. There has been no in-depth qualitative analysis to explore this further. We conducted semi-structured interviews to explore contributory and potentially protective factors in the development of perceived stress, burnout, depression and low work-satisfaction. We sampled purposively among participants in the Satisfaction and Wellbeing in Anaesthetic Training study, reaching data saturation at 12 interviews. Thematic analysis identified three overarching themes: (1) factors enabling work-satisfaction; (2) stressors of being an anaesthetic trainee; (3) suggestions for improving working conditions. Factors enabling work-satisfaction were: patient contact; the privilege of enabling good patient outcomes; and strong support at home and work. Stressors were: demanding non-clinical workloads; exhaustion from multiple commitments; a 'love/hate' relationship as trainees value clinical work but find the training burden immense; feeling 'on edge', even unsafe at work; and the changing way society sees doctors. Suggested recommendations for improvement include: having contracted hours allowed for non-clinical work; individuals taking responsibility for self-care in and out of work; cultural acceptance that doctors can struggle; and embedding wellbeing support more deeply in organisations and the specialty. Nearly all trainees discussed feeling some levels of burnout, which were high and distressing for some, and high levels of perceived stress. Yet trainees also experienced distinct elements of work-satisfaction and support. Our study provides a foundation for further work to inform organisational and cultural changes to help translate anaesthetic trainees' passion for their work, into a manageable and satisfactory career.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1240-1251
Number of pages12
JournalAnaesthesia
Volume74
Issue number10
Early online date15 May 2019
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Oct 2019

Bibliographical note

Part II: an in-depth interview study. Further discussion of the findings is in the following correspondence, linked below (Related URL): Wainwright, E. and Looseley, A. (2020) 'Stress, burnout, depression and work satisfaction among UK anaesthetic trainees: a reply.' Anaesthesia, 75 (2). p. 276.

The authors thank all anaesthetic trainees and non-training grade junior anaesthetists who took part in this study. We also thank the Trainee Research Networks of the Severn (STAR), Peninsula (SWARM) and Wales (WAAREN) deaneries for their support. The study was funded by a grant from the Association of Anaesthetists allocated via the National Institute for Academic Anaesthesia (NIAA). We are very grateful for the funding support that enabled us to do this research. We also thank Dr D. Wainwright at the University of Bath who independently reviewed all coding processes. No external funding or competing interests declared.

Keywords

  • anaesthetic training
  • work stress
  • work satisfaction
  • burnout
  • wellbeing

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