More than One-Third of Academic Neurologists Report Burnout According to New Study

Study results that quantified the prevalence and predictors of burnout showed that over one-third (36.5%) of academic neurology faculty in the United States reported experiencing moderate to high levels of burnout. These results, presented at the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) 2024 Annual Meeting, are important because burnout is associated with impaired clinical judgment and low satisfaction with work-life balance.

The study included faculty from 19 academic neurology departments (N=318) across the United States and took place from December, 2020 to March, 2022. Researchers conducted a standardized survey utilizing the abbreviated Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). Demographic, career, compensation, equity, domestic circumstances, parental leave, and burnout data were collected as part of the Women in Neurology Collaborative Study (WINCS).

• 36.5% (116/318) of respondents reported experiencing moderate to high levels of burnout.
• High burnout rate was linked with higher rates of clinical hours (P<.001).
• Women had a higher proportion of reported emotional exhaustion (70.4% women vs 40% men, P<.001).
• Among women, single women (7.5%, n=24) reported lower burnout (P=.007). Among men, high academic rank (P=.037), presence of leadership title (P=.022), and more research hours worked (P=.041) were associated with decreased risk of burnout.
• Independent predictors of low burnout include professor rank (P=.005) and being 15-20 years post-graduation (P=.03) after adjusting for other factors.