Citation

Dennis NM, Swartz MS. Psychiatr. Serv. 2015; 66(8): 892-895.

Affiliation

The authors are with the Department of Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina (e-mail: nora.dennis@dm.duke.edu ). Dr. Dennis is also with the Mental Health Service Line, Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, American Psychiatric Association)

DOI

10.1176/appi.ps.201400234

PMID

25873026

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study examined psychiatry resident burnout in emergency departments and its association with residents' posttraining plans to care for Medicaid patients and others publicly insured.

METHODS: Between November and December 2013, psychiatry residents in North Carolina were recruited for a cross-sectional, Internet-based survey concerning emergency department experiences, attitudes about their roles, feelings of burnout, and posttraining intentions to treat Medicaid patients. The completion rate was 51% (N=91).

RESULTS: In bivariate analyses (N=82 with an emergency psychiatry rotation), burnout was positively associated with frequent exhaustion (p<.001) and perceived suboptimal supervision by the attending physician (p<.01). Compared with other residents, residents planning to accept Medicaid after training had significantly lower burnout scores (p<.05). Experiencing assault in the emergency department indicated decreased likelihood of treating publicly insured patients after training (Medicaid, odds ratio=.09, p<.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Adverse experiences with patient care in the emergency department during psychiatry residency appear to be linked to professional burnout and threaten to shape long-term plans regarding care for publicly insured patients.

Language: en