Burnout: A Mindful Framework for the Radiologist

Impact of the Radiology Scholars Certificate Program: Does It Persist Years After Program Completion?

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVE

The Radiology Scholars Certificate Program (RSCP) is an elective course for preclinical medical students which aims to improve radiology knowledge, dispel misconceptions regarding the field, and train future clinicians who have a greater understanding of the scope of the field. Previously, we have shown that students demonstrate improved knowledge of radiological topics as well as improved perception of radiology as a field after completing the program. In this study we attempt to determine whether these effects persist up to two years following program completion.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A two-part questionnaire was sent to all third- and fourth-year medical students at our institution in order to assess their objective ability to select appropriate imaging studies and interpret basic imaging findings, as well as evaluate their subjective attitudes and comfort level with radiology topics. Statistical analysis compared students who completed the RSCP to non-RSCP controls.

RESULTS

A total of 54 students responded to the survey (34 had previously completed the RSCP). RSCP participants were significantly more likely to select appropriate imaging workups and correctly interpret imaging findings compared to controls (p < 0.001). Furthermore, RSCP participants reported significantly higher confidence in their ability to order imaging (p < 0.001) and significantly higher satisfaction with their radiology education (p < 0.001). RSCP participants were less likely to agree with negative stereotypes regarding radiology and reported more favorable perceptions of the field.

CONCLUSION

Preclinical radiology-driven medical student education programs like the RSCP offer the potential for lasting improvements in students' understanding of and attitudes toward radiology as a field. We believe that such programs will help address challenges facing the field of radiology regarding recruitment, diversity, and interdisciplinary understanding.

Resilience and mindfulness among radiological personnel in Norway, their relationship and their impact on quality and safety- a questionnaire study

BACKGROUND

Stress and burnout are widespread problems among radiological personnel Individual and organizational resilience and mindfulness offer protection against burnout.

AIM

To investigate the level of resilience and mindfulness among radiological personnel, the associations between organizational resilience, individual resilience, and mindfulness, and how these factors impact the quality of care provided in radiological departments.

METHODS

An online questionnaire consisting of the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, the Benchmark Resilience Tool, and questions regarding burnout, and quality and safety was used. Data analysis consisted of descriptive statistics, bivariate correlation and standard multiple regression.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

Few participants considered burnout a significant challenge. Individual and organizational resilience were low (30.40 ± 4.92 and 63.21 ± 13.63 respectively), and mindfulness was high (4.29 ± 0.88). There was a significant correlation between individual and organizational resilience (p = 0.004), between individual resilience and mindfulness (p = 0.03), and between organizational resilience and mindfulness (p = 0.02). Individual and organizational resilience affect each other. However; neither significantly affect quality and safety, nor mindfulness.

A National Survey Evaluating Burnout and Wellness During Radiology Residency

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

Burnout is a serious problem during medical residency and can contribute to poorer resident and patient health. A thorough understanding of factors associated with burnout can provide insight into supporting resident well-being. The purpose of this study is to assess the prevalence of burnout and ascertain its associated factors among radiology residents in the U.S.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study involved sending an anonymous survey to radiology program directors, coordinators, and residents across the U.S. Data regarding demographics, burnout levels, and burnout-associated factors were collected in the month of August 2023. Multivariable linear regression models evaluated the association of demographic and burnout-associated variables with burnout scores in the dimensions of Emotional Exhaustion, Depersonalization, and Personal Accomplishment. Chi-square analyses with Bonferroni correction and Kruskal-Wallis analyses were used to assess associations between program types and burnout as well as between program type and program effectiveness in managing burnout. Resident suggestions on addressing burnout were qualitatively assessed.

RESULTS

147 radiology residents responded to the survey. Emotional Exhaustion was positively associated with seeking social support (p = .03) and negatively associated with perceived program effectiveness in addressing burnout (p < .001). Respondents who identified as male experienced greater Depersonalization (p = .02). Increased frequency of physical activity was associated with higher Personal Accomplishment scores (p = .04). The most common resident suggestions related to Work Burden, Program Support, and Protected Wellness Time.

CONCLUSION

Radiology programs should consider designing interventions addressing burnout, such as enhancing avenues for feedback and tailoring resident training based on individual preferences for remote work. Understanding the unique challenges faced by radiology residents is essential to tackle burnout and improve wellness.

A Meta-analysis of Burnout in Radiology Trainees and Radiologists: Insights From the Maslach Burnout Inventory

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

Burnout, stemming from chronic work stress, is a significant issue in the medical field, especially among radiologists. It leads to compromised patient care and reduced job satisfaction. Addressing burnout in radiology is essential for the well-being of radiologists and, in turn, for improving patient care. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and dimensions of burnout among radiology trainees (RTs) and practicing radiologists (PRs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted in accordance with established guidelines. The search encompassed PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase databases up to June 20, 2023. Eligible studies that assessed the rate of burnout syndrome and/or its subscales, including depersonalization (DP), emotional exhaustion (EE), and personal accomplishment (PA), among RTs and/or PRs using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), were included. Relevant data were extracted and analyzed using R and STATA.

RESULTS

Among the 22 included studies, the pooled rates of positive MBI subscales for RTs and PRs were as follows: 54.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 43.8%-65.1%, I2 = 95.2%) for DP, 57.2% (95% CI: 48.7%-65.4%, I2 = 92.9%) for EE, and 38.6% (95% CI: 27%-51.7%, I2 = 95.5%) for low PA. The pooled rate indicating the presence of at least one positive MBI subscale was 82.9% (95% CI: 79.2%-86.1%, I2 = 57.4%). For two or more positive MBI subscales, the pooled rate was 55.5% (95% CI: 49.7%-61.3%, I2 = 60.2%), and for three positive MBI subscales, it was 16.7% (95% CI: 11.7%-23.3%, I2 = 82.7%).

CONCLUSION

This study emphasizes a notable prevalence of burnout in the radiology specialty, with 8 of 10 individuals exhibiting positive results in at least one MBI subscale. This highlights the urgent need for interventions and support systems to protect the well-being of both trainees and practitioners and uphold the quality of patient care.

Impact of an online training tool on individual and organizational resilience and mindfulness among radiological personnel in Norway

BACKGROUND

Heavy workloads and increasing demands for productivity have contributed to rising rates of stress and burnout among radiological staff. Different forms of mindfulness and resilience-training might assist with stress management and protect these employees against burnout.

AIM

The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of an online training tool on individual and organizational resilience, mindfulness and quality of care.

METHODS

An online questionnaire was used, consisting of the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, the Benchmark Resilience Tool, and questions pertaining to quality, safety, and burnout (baseline = 68 participants between July 2022 - October 2022, follow-up = 13 participants between November 2022 - February 2023). Descriptive statistics and a paired-sampled t-test were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Few participants reported completing any of the exercises. The baseline group had significantly higher mean resilience (p = 0.018) and mindfulness scores (p = < 0.001), mean decrease in scores was 7.46 for resilience and 1.7 for mindfulness. In conclusion, both individual and organizational resilience are perceived as low among radiological personnel in Norway. However, it does not seem to affect quality and safety.

An Institutional Approach to Fight Technologist Burnout: Radiologist Contribution to National Radiologic Technology Week and Other Efforts

Radiologic technologists are an integral part of the function of the radiology department and are at risk of burnout with increasing volumes and demands. Integration of the technologists into departmental wellness efforts may prove to be important to technologist retention and job satisfaction. We describe a single institution's efforts to support the technologists in our department, which started as a spontaneous thank you note drive and has grown into an annual effort to celebrate National Radiologic Technology Week and a broader inclusion of the technologists in departmental wellness.

Fully automated pipeline for measurement of the thoracic aorta using joint segmentation and localization neural network

Purpose

Diagnosis and surveillance of thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) involves measuring the aortic diameter at various locations along the length of the aorta, often using computed tomography angiography (CTA). Currently, measurements are performed by human raters using specialized software for three-dimensional analysis, a time-consuming process, requiring 15 to 45 min of focused effort. Thus, we aimed to develop a convolutional neural network (CNN)-based algorithm for fully automated and accurate aortic measurements.

Approach

Using 212 CTA scans, we trained a CNN to perform segmentation and localization of key landmarks jointly. Segmentation mask and landmarks are subsequently used to obtain the centerline and cross-sectional diameters of the aorta. Subsequently, a cubic spline is fit to the aortic boundary at the sinuses of Valsalva to avoid errors related inclusions of coronary artery origins. Performance was evaluated on a test set of 60 scans with automated measurements compared against expert manual raters.

Result

Compared to training separate networks for each task, joint training yielded higher accuracy for segmentation, especially at the boundary (p < 0.001 ), but a marginally worse (0.2 to 0.5 mm) accuracy for landmark localization (p < 0.001 ). Mean absolute error between human and automated was ≤ 1    mm at six of nine standard clinical measurement locations. However, higher errors were noted in the aortic root and arch regions, ranging between 1.4 and 2.2 mm, although agreement of manual raters was also lower in these regions.

Conclusion

Fully automated aortic diameter measurements in TAA are feasible using a CNN-based algorithm. Automated measurements demonstrated low errors that are comparable in magnitude to those with manual raters; however, measurement error was highest in the aortic root and arch.

Exploring Radiologists' Burnout in the COVID-19 Era: A Narrative Review

Since its beginning in March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has claimed an exceptionally high number of victims and brought significant disruption to the personal and professional lives of millions of people worldwide. Among medical specialists, radiologists have found themselves at the forefront of the crisis due to the pivotal role of imaging in the diagnostic and interventional management of COVID-19 pneumonia and its complications. Because of the disruptive changes related to the COVID-19 outbreak, a proportion of radiologists have faced burnout to several degrees, resulting in detrimental effects on their working activities and overall wellbeing. This paper aims to provide an overview of the literature exploring the issue of radiologists' burnout in the COVID-19 era.

ouR Space Commentary: Wellness Perspective From SABI's Early Career Committee

ABSTRACT

Radiologists and members-in-training are experiencing higher (and escalating) rates of burnout, resulting in a profound impact on the health of physicians, patients, and the community. Lately, the radiology community has demonstrated a growing awareness of this phenomenon, which has led to emphasis on practicing and promoting wellness. With a myriad of factors contributing to burnout in radiology, a multifaceted approach is pivotal for counteracting burnout and fostering overall well-being, including efforts driven at both organizational and individual levels. This article discusses perspectives from the members of the Early Career Committee at the Society for Advanced Body Imaging (SABI); it explores their beliefs and practical strategies for maintaining personal well-being.

[Burnout among Radiologists in Korea: Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Remedies]

Burnout among radiologists has recently emerged as an issue that poses a threat to patient safety. Burnout adversely effects the quality of patient care and may lead to health problems in physicians. Approximately 84% of board-certified radiologists working in large hospitals in Korea responded that they had experienced burnout at least once. To overcome this, the standardization of physicians' workloads, as well as improvements in the professional workflow are necessary to ensure a healthy lifestyle balance.