Medical students with co-occurring disabilities are more likely to experience burnout compared to their peers, according to a recent study conducted by Yale University. The risk of burnout is even higher for students who identify as Asian or belong to racial or ethnic groups that are typically underrepresented in the medical field. These findings highlight the importance of reducing stigma and addressing the needs of students with disabilities.
The research, published on January 10 in JAMA Network Open, builds upon previous studies that have shown that Asian, Black, and Hispanic medical students, as well as those with disabilities, are at greater risk of burnout compared to their white counterparts without disabilities. However, little was known about how race, ethnicity, and disability status intersected.
To investigate this further, the researchers analyzed data from the 2019 and 2020 Year 2 Questionnaire distributed by the Association of American Medical Colleges. The questionnaire included self-reported information from 27,009 medical students in the United States. Burnout was assessed using the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory for Medical Students, a 16-item scale that measures exhaustion and disengagement.
The study revealed that 12.6% of students without disabilities were at high risk of burnout, while the same risk was reported for over 21% of students with one disability and 31.3% of students with multiple disabilities. These disabilities could be physical or psychological, related to hearing, vision, learning, or stem from chronic illnesses. Students with a disability and those with multiple disabilities were 70% and 254% more likely to experience burnout, respectively, compared to their peers.
Furthermore, students identifying as Asian or as belonging to underrepresented racial or ethnic groups in medicine, such as Black, Hispanic, Hawaiian Native, Alaskan Native, and Pacific Islander students, faced a higher risk of burnout compared to white peers with the same disability status.
The senior author of the study, Dowin Boatright, vice chair of research in the Department of Emergency Medicine at New York University Grossman School of Medicine and formerly of Yale School of Medicine, noted the clear association between disability and burnout, as well as the disproportionate impact on underrepresented students.
In order to address burnout among medical students with disabilities, it is important for medical schools to provide adequate accommodations, as research has shown that this can improve burnout levels. Institutions should also ensure that the processes for obtaining accommodations are clear. Additionally, efforts should be made to combat the stigma surrounding disabilities, as it can prevent students from seeking the accommodations they need.
By addressing these challenges, not only would students benefit, but it would also lead to a more diverse and accessible medical workforce, which ultimately benefits patients. Medical professionals with disabilities are known to display more empathy and provide more thorough treatment, particularly when working with patients who have disabilities or chronic illnesses.
In conclusion, the study emphasizes the need for medical schools to support students with disabilities and address the heightened risk of burnout they face. By doing so, healthcare institutions can create a more inclusive and diverse environment that ultimately results in better care for all patients.
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Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
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