Surgeons’ dominant surgical modality: Impacts on wellbeing, burnout, and interventions for neuromusculoskeletal disorders

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the impact of surgical modalities on surgeon wellbeing with a focus on burnout, job satisfaction, and interventions used to address neuromusculoskeletal disorders (NMSDs). METHODS: An electronic survey was sent to surgeons across an academic integrated multihospital system. The survey consisted of 47 questions investigating different aspects of surgeons' wellbeing. RESULTS: Out of 245 thoracic and abdominopelvic surgeons, 79 surgeons (32.2 ​%) responded, and 65 surgeons (82 ​%) were able to be categorized as having a dominant surgical modality. Compared to robotic surgeons, laparoscopic (p ​= ​0.042) and open (p ​= ​0.012) surgeons reported more frequent feelings of burnout. The number of surgeons who used any treatment/intervention to minimize the operative discomfort/pain was lower for robotic surgeons than the other three modalities (all p ​< ​0.05). CONCLUSIONS: NMSDs affect different aspects of surgeons' lives and occupations. Robotic surgery was associated with decreased feelings of burnout than the other modalities.