Surgeons in Difficulty: An Exploration of Differences in Assistance-Seeking Behaviors between Male and Female Surgeons

摘要

BACKGROUND: Physician burnout is associated with diminished ability to practice with requisite skill and safety. Physicians are often reluctant to seek help for an impaired colleague or for impairment that affects their own ability to practice. To better support surgeons in difficulty, we explored sex differences in assistance-seeking behaviors under stress. STUDY DESIGN: Surgeons in 3 national societies completed an IRB-approved anonymous multiple-choice and free-text response survey. Responses were explored with the general linear model using item-specific continuous and categorical methods. STUDY DESIGN: Two hundred and twelve surgeons (n = 79 37.3 male, n = 133 63 female) responded. Although men and women worked similar hours (p > 0.05), women worked more clinical (p < 0.01) and fewer administrative hours (p < 0.01) in later age (F = 7.88; degrees of freedom df 4/145; p < 0.01). Women were less satisfied with work—life balance, as identified by aggregate variables related to emotional/decisional partnership, non—work-related chore support, and personal fulfillment (F — 15.29; df 3/16; p < 0.01), but change jobs less frequently (F= 4.23; df 1/201; p < 0.05). Males are more likely to seek help from colleagues (chi-square 107.5; p < 0.01) or friends (chi-square 123.8; p < 0.01) and women are more likely to seek support from professional counselors (chi-square 146.8; p < 0.01). Almost one-third of surgeons would ignore behaviors that adversely impact well being and could result in potential personal or patient safety.