Table 3 Associations between communication patterns and burnout: single-item analysis
Variables | All physicians (n = 211) N (%) | Physicians with burnout (n = 124) N (%) | OR | 95% CI | P value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Factors associated with high risk of burnout | |||||
Breaking bad news means discussing a poor prognosis | |||||
Yes | 136 (64%) | 86 (69%) | 1.94 | 1.03–3.64 | 0.039 |
No | 75 (36%) | 38 (31%) | |||
Breaking bad news is stressful | |||||
Yes | 78 (37%) | 57 (46%) | 2.92 | 1.49–5.73 | 0.001 |
No | 133 (63%) | 67 (54%) | |||
Discussing prognosis is talking about the success of treatment options | |||||
Yes | 75 (36%) | 52 (42%) | 2.12 | 1.05–4.28 | 0.036 |
No | 136 (64%) | 72 (58%) | |||
Self-evaluating as unskilled at patient-physician communication | |||||
Yes | 44 (22%) | 31 (27%) | 2.27 | 1.04–4.75 | 0.029 |
No | 156 (78%) | 85 (73%) | |||
Professional Role | |||||
Resident | 93 (46%) | 60 (51%) | 1.75 | 1.00–3.04 | 0.049 |
Consultant | 109 (54%) | 57 (49%) | |||
Factors associated with low risk of burnout | |||||
Having a consistent plan for communication | |||||
Yes | 80 (38%) | 40 (32%) | 0.37 | 0.14–0.96 | 0.040 |
No | 130 (62%) | 84 (68%) | |||
Breaking bad news only considered as emotionally engaging | |||||
Yes | 158 (75%) | 89 (72%) | 0.56 | 0.31–0.98 | 0.042 |
No | 53 (25%) | 35 (28%) | |||
Addressing patients’ emotions with empathic responses | |||||
Yes | 137 (66%) | 71 (58%) | 0.39 | 0.18–0.85 | 0.017 |
No | 72 (34%) | 51 (42%) | |||
Discussing prognosis with the goal of promoting awareness of illness trajectory, therapeutic choices and to optimize patients’ adjustment | |||||
Yes | 119 (69%) | 65 (63%) | 0.44 | 0.24–0.82 | 0.010 |
No | 53 (31%) | 38 (37%) | |||
Sharing decisions with patients | |||||
Yes | 86 (41%) | 42 (34%) | 0.46 | 0.24–0.88 | 0.019 |
No | 125 (59%) | 82 (66%) | |||
Mastering communication skills by using textbooks and scientific literature | |||||
Yes | 13 (6%) | 3 (2%) | 0.18 | 0.01–0.68 | 0.011 |
No | 198 (94%) | 121 (98%) | |||
Self-evaluating communication skills as good or very good | |||||
Yes | 74 (35%) | 30 (24%) | 0.31 | 0.17–0.56 | 0.000 |
No | 136 (75%) | 93 (76%) | |||
Years from graduation | |||||
6–16 | 60 (52%) | 29 (23%a) | 0.29 | 0.13–0.67 | 0.003 |
0–3 | 55 (48%) | 37 (30%a) | |||