TY - JOUR T1 - When burn-out reaches a pandemic level in gastroenterology: a call for a more sustainable work–life balance JF - Frontline Gastroenterology JO - Frontline Gastroenterol DO - 10.1136/flgastro-2020-101725 SP - flgastro-2020-101725 AU - Nikki Duong AU - Steven Bollipo AU - Aparna Repaka AU - Shaji Sebastian AU - Christina Tennyson AU - Aline Charabaty Y1 - 2021/03/16 UR - http://fg.bmj.com/content/early/2021/03/24/flgastro-2020-101725.abstract N2 - The concept of burn-out, defined as a complex construct of emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and a decline in personal achievement, was first introduced by Herbert Freudenberg nearly five decades ago.1 Burn-out affecting all levels of healthcare professions is increasingly reported in the literature.2–4 Up to one-half of gastroenterologists report burn-out, with increased rates among trainees, early career physicians and interventional endoscopists.5 A recent UK survey on practising gastroenterologists reported significant rates of emotional ill health and work-related stress which impacted work performance.6The factors contributing to burn-out among gastroenterologists include excessive clinical work load with increasing demands related to the complexity of patient care, work productivity, electronic health records (EHR), documentation to measure endoscopy standards as well as the lack of autonomy, administrative support, workplace relationships, work and home conflicts.5 6 Furthermore, the drivers of clinician burn-out may also lead to ‘moral injury’ when the knowledge of the care needs of the patient often at odds with the ability to provide it due to constraints are beyond the clinicians’ control.7Burn-out may have grave consequences to the health of physicians and is associated with depression, increased risk of substance abuse and a twofold increase in the risk of suicide.4 6 In a UK survey,6 one-fifth of the respondents required occupational health or medical interventions including use of antidepressants or anxiolytics. Burn-out is linked to suboptimal patient care practices potentially impacting on safety, reduced access to care, and reduced patient satisfaction. Furthermore, the healthcare system as a whole may be adversely affected due to the cost associated with physician turnover and reduced productivity.Since the first case of COVID-19 was reported in Wuhan, China in December 2019, there has been an exponential increase in publications related to both COVID-19 and burn-out. The viral pandemic … ER -