J Korean Med Sci.  2024 Feb;40(5):e21. 10.3346/jkms.2025.40.e21.

Evaluation of Burnout and Contributing Factors in Imaging Cardiologists in Korea

• Choi YJ
• Choi KU
• Lee YM
• Lee HJ
• Moon I
• Seo J
• Kim K
• Kim SR
• Kim J
• Choi HM
• Gwak SY
• Kim M
• Kim M
• Ko KY
• Oh JK
• Choi JY
• Cho DH
• obotKSoEHIoT

• KMID: 2565117
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2025.40.e21

Abstract

Background
We aimed to examine the prevalence of burnout among imaging cardiologists in Korea and to identify its associated factors.
Methods
An online survey of imaging cardiologists affiliated with university hospitals in Korea was conducted using SurveyMonkey ® in November 2023. The validated Korean version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Service Survey was used to assess burnout across three dimensions: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and lack of personal accomplishment. Data on demographics, work environment factors, and job satisfaction were collected using structured questionnaires.
Results
A total of 128 imaging cardiologists (46.1% men; 76.6% aged ≤ 50 years) participated in the survey. Regarding workload, 74.2% of the respondents interpreted over 50 echocardiographic examinations daily, and 53.2% allocated > 5 of 10 working sessions per week to echocardiographic laboratory duties. Burnout levels were high, with a significant proportion of participants experiencing emotional exhaustion (28.1%), depersonalization (63.3%), and a lack of personal accomplishment (92.2%). Younger age (< 50 years) was correlated with higher emotional exhaustion risk, while more research time was protective against burnout in the depersonalization domain. Factors, such as being single, living with family, and specific job satisfaction facets, including uncontrollable workload and value mismatch, were associated with varying levels of burnout risk across different dimensions
Conclusion
Our study underscores the high burnout rates among Korean imaging cardiologists, attributed to factors such as the subjective environment and job satisfaction. Hence, evaluating and supporting cardiologists in terms of individual values and subjective factors are important to effectively prevent burnout..

Keyword

Burnout; Echocardiography Specialists; Job Satisfaction; Emotional Exhaustion; Depersonalization; Korea

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Prevalence of high burnout levels across three dimensions according to gender among imaging cardiologists in Korea. Burnout levels are categorized as high, moderate, or low based on defined thresholds for each dimension according to the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Service Survey. Higher scores (≥ 27) in emotional exhaustion and (≥ 10) depersonalization indicate a high level of burnout, while lower scores (≤ 33) in personal accomplishment suggest a high level of burnout.

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  Fig. 2 Proportion of imaging cardiologists experiencing high burnout across multiple dimensions. The Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Service Survey assesses burnout across three dimensions: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and lack of personal accomplishment.

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  Fig. 3 Proportion of participants with high burnout levels across three dimensions by age groups.

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