Burnout Syndrome Among Diabetes Specialist Trainee Registrars in United Kingdom

Burnout syndrome can develop after a prolonged response to chronic emotional and interpersonal workplace stressors, and is defined by 3 dimensions - emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and lack of personal accomplishment. The consequences of burnout on an employee can be on a psychological and somatic level as well as on her/his ability to perform work, and hospital physicians with burnout have higher sickness and absenteeism and decreases work output. Burnout among physicians can also lead to medical mistakes and increasing the odds for workplace failure with adverse affects in their attitude towards their work. Research has shown that doctors reporting high workload and a unsupported work climate have higher stress, burnout and dissatisfaction with their career.

Study done by author previously in 2018 among Diabetes specialist registrars in England Scotland and Wales identified burnout syndrome in 57.5% respondents with commonest self-reported stressors being workload and lack of specialty training. In order to address this problem nationally, there is need to re-assess the presence of burnout and then consider planning for any interventional steps that may help reduce burnout.

Inclusion criteria

• All specialty doctors working in Diabetes or Endocrinology department post foundation years, in the following deaneries/regions in United Kingdom

• Health Education Yorkshire & Humber
• Health Education East Midlands
• Health Education East of England
• Health Education Kent Surrey & Sussex
• Health Education North West & Mersey Deanery
• Health Education North East
• Health Education South West Peninsula and Severn Deanery
• Health Education Thames Valley (Oxford)
• Health Education Wessex
• Health Education West Midlands
• London Deanery (North West, North Central & East London, South London)
• Northern Ireland Medical & Dental Training Agency
• Scotland Deanery (West, South East, East, North)
• Wales Deanery
• Doctors currently working for the last 3 months in either one of the following posts:

• Clinical fellow/ non-deanery training post/locally employed trainee
• Academic clinical fellow trainee / ACF
• Core Trainee or Specialist trainee year 3/ awaiting National Training Number
• Associate Specialist Equivalent/Trust middle grade
• Specialist trainee year 4 through year 8
• Clinical Lecturer
• Diabetes consultant (new i.e within 3 years of appointment, locum, fixed term or substantive)
• Currently working in UK for at least six months in the last one year
• Agreeing to participate via informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Self-reported presence of mental health illness and/or active treatment.
• Not currently working for more than 3 months e.g on sick leave.