There is an acknowledged risk of burnout in the healthcare industry. This analysis of the American Urological Association Census data determined the prevalence and distribution of burnout among urology’s advanced practice providers (APPs). Each year, the American Urological Association compiles data from a survey sent to all healthcare professionals in the urological care industry, including APPs. APP exhaustion was quantified in the 2019 Census by means of the Maslach Burnout Inventory. In order to identify risk factors for burnout, researchers analyzed demographic and practice characteristics. In 2019, there were a total of 199 APPs (116 nurse practitioners and 83 physician assistants) participated in the Census. Slightly more than a quarter of APPs (25.3% of physician assistants and 26.7% of nurse practitioners) reported experiencing professional burnout. Among APPs, the highest rates of burnout were recorded among those in the 45-54 age range (34.3%), among women (29.6% vs. 10.8% in men, P<0.05), among non-Whites (33.3% vs. 24.9% in Whites), among those with 4-9 years of practice (32.4%), and among those who worked in academic medical centers (31.7%). None of these changes, with the exception of gender, reached statistical significance. Women were found to have a higher risk of burnout than men by a factor of 3.2 (95% CI: 1.1-9.6) when using a multivariate logistic regression model. Overall, APPs in urological care reported lower burnout than urologists; nevertheless, women were more likely than men to experience significant levels of professional burnout. The consequences of this result need to be looked at in future research.
Source: auajournals.org/doi/10.1097/UPJ.0000000000000334
