Burnout assessment at a college of pharmacy, college of optometry, and school of physician assistant studies

Abstract

Introduction: There is limited research on burnout among students and faculty of health professions programs. This study was designed to assess burnout among students and faculty at a college of pharmacy (COP), college of optometry (COO), and school of physician assistant studies (SPAS).

Methods: The Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL) was distributed to faculty and students at Marshall B Ketchum University (MBKU) COP, COO, and SPAS. Scores for burnout, compassion satisfaction, and secondary traumatic stress were compared between programs, faculty, and students.

Results: Median secondary traumatic stress scores were statistically higher for respondents (students and faculty) in the SPAS (24 [interquartile range (IQR) 17-27]) vs. respondents in the COP (20 [IQR 18-26]) and COO (19 [IQR 16-22]). Faculty had statistically higher median compassion satisfaction scores (41 [IQR 34-44]) vs. students (36 [IQR 32-40]), while students had statistically higher median burnout scale scores compared to faculty (27 [IQR 23-32] vs. 21 [IQR 17-26]). There was no difference in secondary traumatic stress between students and faculty, and there were no differences in compassion satisfaction or burnout between programs.

Conclusions: This study demonstrated that students in the COP, COO, and SPAS had higher burnout scores when compared to faculty at the study institution. These results suggest that efforts to address burnout should first focus on students. SPAS students and faculty may require specific efforts to address secondary trauma.

Keywords: Burnout; Faculty; Optometry; Pharmacy education; Physician assistant; Student.