Identifying Contextual Workplace Stressors in a Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Background:. Healthcare professionals in plastic and reconstructive surgery (PRS) face unique stressors that contribute to burnout, increasing the risk of errors and compromising patient care. Despite this, there is limited research on PRS burnout in the United States. This study aimed to measure bu...

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Main Authors: Viola Goodacre, MPS, MSc, Karthik Adapa, MD, PhD, Elizabeth Kwong, MS, Lisa M. Vizer, PhD, Chao-Chin Liu, MS, Nadia Charguia, MD, Caprice Greenberg, MD, MPH, Lynn A. Damitz, MD, FACS, Damian McHugh, MD, Lukasz M. Mazur, PhD
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer 2025-02-01
Series:Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Global Open
Online Access:http://journals.lww.com/prsgo/fulltext/10.1097/GOX.0000000000006525
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author Viola Goodacre, MPS, MSc
Karthik Adapa, MD, PhD
Elizabeth Kwong, MS
Lisa M. Vizer, PhD
Chao-Chin Liu, MS
Nadia Charguia, MD
Caprice Greenberg, MD, MPH
Lynn A. Damitz, MD, FACS
Damian McHugh, MD
Lukasz M. Mazur, PhD
author_facet Viola Goodacre, MPS, MSc
Karthik Adapa, MD, PhD
Elizabeth Kwong, MS
Lisa M. Vizer, PhD
Chao-Chin Liu, MS
Nadia Charguia, MD
Caprice Greenberg, MD, MPH
Lynn A. Damitz, MD, FACS
Damian McHugh, MD
Lukasz M. Mazur, PhD
author_sort Viola Goodacre, MPS, MSc
collection DOAJ
description Background:. Healthcare professionals in plastic and reconstructive surgery (PRS) face unique stressors that contribute to burnout, increasing the risk of errors and compromising patient care. Despite this, there is limited research on PRS burnout in the United States. This study aimed to measure burnout rates and identify high-impact improvement targets within a PRS division at a US academic medical center. Methods:. A sequential mixed-methods study was conducted, involving systems analysis and contextual design methods. All surgeons (n = 5) and nonsurgeons (n = 9) were invited to participate (total n = 14). Burnout rates were measured, and workplace stressors were identified using surveys, focus groups, and contextual inquiries. High-impact, low-effort improvement targets were determined through impact-effort matrices. Results:. Survey data from 13 respondents revealed an 85% burnout rate. Three focus groups and 14 contextual inquiries were conducted. After 13 participants validated and prioritized 2 affinity diagrams and provided 24 high-priority stressors, 8 respondents completed 2 surveys that yielded 6 high-impact/low-effort targets for organizational improvement efforts. Conclusions:. This study highlights the high prevalence of burnout in PRS and identifies specific improvement targets for both surgeons and nonsurgeons. Findings suggest strategies such as improving respect and recognition for surgeons and streamlining clinic flow for nonsurgeons. Implementing these targeted improvements can enhance the well-being of healthcare professionals and ultimately improve patient care. The study’s methods can be replicated by other healthcare organizations to identify and address burnout-related issues effectively.
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spelling doaj-art-d13631a7052545aea1a00c190a4a46c72025-08-20T03:04:49ZengWolters KluwerPlastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Global Open2169-75742025-02-01132e652510.1097/GOX.0000000000006525202502000-00028Identifying Contextual Workplace Stressors in a Division of Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeryViola Goodacre, MPS, MSc0Karthik Adapa, MD, PhD1Elizabeth Kwong, MS2Lisa M. Vizer, PhD3Chao-Chin Liu, MS4Nadia Charguia, MD5Caprice Greenberg, MD, MPH6Lynn A. Damitz, MD, FACS7Damian McHugh, MD8Lukasz M. Mazur, PhD9From the * Division of Healthcare Engineering, Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USAFrom the * Division of Healthcare Engineering, Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USAFrom the * Division of Healthcare Engineering, Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USAFrom the * Division of Healthcare Engineering, Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USAFrom the * Division of Healthcare Engineering, Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA† Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA§ Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA¶ Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA∥ Curi Advisory, Raleigh, NC, USA.From the * Division of Healthcare Engineering, Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USABackground:. Healthcare professionals in plastic and reconstructive surgery (PRS) face unique stressors that contribute to burnout, increasing the risk of errors and compromising patient care. Despite this, there is limited research on PRS burnout in the United States. This study aimed to measure burnout rates and identify high-impact improvement targets within a PRS division at a US academic medical center. Methods:. A sequential mixed-methods study was conducted, involving systems analysis and contextual design methods. All surgeons (n = 5) and nonsurgeons (n = 9) were invited to participate (total n = 14). Burnout rates were measured, and workplace stressors were identified using surveys, focus groups, and contextual inquiries. High-impact, low-effort improvement targets were determined through impact-effort matrices. Results:. Survey data from 13 respondents revealed an 85% burnout rate. Three focus groups and 14 contextual inquiries were conducted. After 13 participants validated and prioritized 2 affinity diagrams and provided 24 high-priority stressors, 8 respondents completed 2 surveys that yielded 6 high-impact/low-effort targets for organizational improvement efforts. Conclusions:. This study highlights the high prevalence of burnout in PRS and identifies specific improvement targets for both surgeons and nonsurgeons. Findings suggest strategies such as improving respect and recognition for surgeons and streamlining clinic flow for nonsurgeons. Implementing these targeted improvements can enhance the well-being of healthcare professionals and ultimately improve patient care. The study’s methods can be replicated by other healthcare organizations to identify and address burnout-related issues effectively.http://journals.lww.com/prsgo/fulltext/10.1097/GOX.0000000000006525
spellingShingle Viola Goodacre, MPS, MSc
Karthik Adapa, MD, PhD
Elizabeth Kwong, MS
Lisa M. Vizer, PhD
Chao-Chin Liu, MS
Nadia Charguia, MD
Caprice Greenberg, MD, MPH
Lynn A. Damitz, MD, FACS
Damian McHugh, MD
Lukasz M. Mazur, PhD
Identifying Contextual Workplace Stressors in a Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Global Open
title Identifying Contextual Workplace Stressors in a Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
title_full Identifying Contextual Workplace Stressors in a Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
title_fullStr Identifying Contextual Workplace Stressors in a Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
title_full_unstemmed Identifying Contextual Workplace Stressors in a Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
title_short Identifying Contextual Workplace Stressors in a Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
title_sort identifying contextual workplace stressors in a division of plastic and reconstructive surgery
url http://journals.lww.com/prsgo/fulltext/10.1097/GOX.0000000000006525
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