The predictors of depression and burnout among surgical residents: A cross-sectional study from Kuwait

BACKGROUND: Surgical residency often poses a challenge to residents, with long working hours and a stressful work environment. Surgical residents are at an increased risk of burnout and depression. Such mental health burdens could go so far as to affect treatment outcomes. AIM: To assess the prevalence and risk factors for depression and burnout among residents across surgical specialties in Kuwait. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An online questionnaire was sent to the residents enrolled to the surgical residency programs in Kuwait, from the period of January 2020–February 2020. Variables collected included; age, gender, marital status, smoking history, exercise, specialty, year of training, on-call frequency, assessment of burnout (using the abbreviated Maslach Burnout Inventory (aMBI)) and assessment of depressive symptoms (using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) score). RESULTS: A total of 85 surgical residents between the age of 20 and 40 years responded. Most (64.7%) were male and 35.3% female. More than half were married (51.8%) and 41.2% were single. The majority of the residents were in general surgery (43.5%), with the least being in otolaryngology (7.1%) and neurosurgery (5.9%). The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 55.3%, and 51.8% had a high overall burnout score. CONCLUSION: Addressing burnout at all stages during residency training is paramount in improving standard of care as well as increasing the wellness of residents.