Incidence and cause of occupational burnout syndrome among sonographers

Incidence and cause of occupational burnout syndrome among sonographers

Reviewer: Peter Esselbach | ASA SIG: Health and Wellbeing

Author: Tran M

Why the study was performed

The study was performed to assess the level of occupational burnout in sonographers and to determine if there was an association between sex, number of hours worked per week and burnout.

How the study was performed

A survey and questionnaire were used to assess the prevalence of occupational burnout syndrome among sonographers who were members of the Society for Diagnostic Medical Sonography. The Maslach Burnout inventory survey was used, measuring emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, and lack of personal accomplishment.

What the study found

A total of 1049 sonographers were surveyed of which 914 completed responses were analysed. The results indicated a moderate level of both disengagement and exhaustion overall. They concluded that a moderate degree of burnout syndrome was reported by the sonographer cohort. Between the two burnout dimensions, exhaustion appeared to be more prevalent than disengagement.

A significantly higher burnout score was seen in sonographers who worked more than 37 hours per week compared to those who worked fewer hours per week.

The survey found that 76% of respondents stated ‘they did not have enough energy for leisure activities after work.’ 81% responded that they were worn out and weary after work. Furthermore, 72% of sonographers said they felt emotionally drained during work.

The study found no significant differences when comparing the rate of burnout between men and women.

Relevance to clinical practice

The study suggested that sonographers who worked longer hours experienced higher levels of stress and developed a higher incidence of occupational burnout. This could indicate that a poor work-life balance often leads to higher levels of employee exhaustion and risk of burnout.

Workplace stress is a significant issue in sonography escalated by the increasing number of hours sonographers are working. Helping to manage workplace stress and the factors related to burnout would assist in improving the retention of sonographers within radiology.

Assessing how burnout affects working sonographers could aid in managing workplace stress and improving employee retention