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Gender differences in burnout among urologists

Nature Reviews Urology (2023)Cite this article

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Burnout is prevalent among urologists and leads to increased medical errors and decreased career satisfaction. Lack of access to mental health care and long work hours contribute to burnout in urologists; however, gender bias in the workplace, mistreatment and balancing family life responsibilities specifically predispose women urologists to burnout.

Burnout is an occupational syndrome initially described by Dr Herbert J. Freudenberger in 1980 that develops in response to relentless work-related stress1. The syndrome involves three major components: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and lack of personal accomplishment in relation to professional activity. Symptoms of burnout overlap with those of depression and can lead to increased medical errors, decreased patient and physician safety, decreased professionalism, and increased career dissatisfaction2.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, Southern Illinois University, Springfield, IL, USA

    Tiffany L. Damm & M. Francesca Monn

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  1. Tiffany L. Damm
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  2. M. Francesca Monn
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Correspondence to M. Francesca Monn.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Damm, T.L., Monn, M.F. Gender differences in burnout among urologists. Nat Rev Urol (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41585-023-00757-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41585-023-00757-8

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