Trockel MT, West CP, Dyrbye LN, Sinsky CA, Tutty M, Wang H, Carlasare LE, Menon NK, Shanafelt TD. Assessment of Adverse Childhood Experiences, Adverse Professional Experiences, Depression, and Burnout in US Physicians.
Mayo Clin Proc 2023;
98:1785-1796. [PMID:
38043996 DOI:
10.1016/j.mayocp.2023.03.021]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To assess associations of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and adverse occupational experiences (AOEs) with depression and burnout in US physicians.
PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS
We performed a secondary analysis of data from a representative sample survey of US physicians conducted between November 20, 2020, and March 23, 2021, and from a probability-based sample of other US workers. The ACEs, AOEs, burnout, and depression were assessed using previously published measures.
RESULTS
Analyses included data from 1125 of the 3671 physicians (30.6%) who received a mailed survey and 6235 of 90,000 physicians (6.9%) who received an electronic survey. The proportion of physicians age 29-65 who had lived with a family member with substance misuse during childhood (673 of 5039[13.4%]) was marginally lower (P <.001) than that of workers in other professions (448 of 2505 [17.9%]). The proportion of physicians age 29-65 who experienced childhood emotional abuse (823 of 5038 [16.3%]) was similar to that of workers in other professions (406 of 2508 [16.2%]). The average physician depression T-score was 49.60 (raw score ± SD, 6.48±3.15), similar to the normed US average. The AOEs were associated with mild to severe depression, including making a recent significant medical error (odds ratio [OR], 1.64; 95% CI, 1.33 to 2.02, P<.001), being named in a malpractice suit (OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.07 to 1.59, P=.008), and experiencing one or more coronavirus disease 2019-related AOEs (OR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.56 to 1.99, P<.001). Having one or more ACEs was associated with mild to severe depression (OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.38 to 1.79, P<.001). The ACEs, coronavirus disease 2019-related AOEs, and medical errors were also associated with burnout.
CONCLUSION
Assessing ACEs and AOEs and implementing selective primary prevention interventions may improve population health efforts to mitigate depression and burnout in physicians.
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