Impact of a Dedicated Trauma Consult Service on Burnout Among Physicians and Nurses: A Longitudinal Survey

Background Trauma and emergency medicine providers have previously reported high levels of burnout, which were exacerbated by the COVID pandemic. This study evaluated the impact of trauma system change with the introduction of a novel Trauma Consult Service (TCS) on clinician burnout levels at zero, six, and 12 months for major trauma patients in Nova Scotia. Methods A longitudinal electronic survey was developed and piloted by the research team. Baseline surveys were administered in November 2022 to clinicians who pivoted from their usual career to a dedicated focus on inpatient trauma care. Demographic data and burnout symptoms were assessed using surveys, i.e., the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, the Maslach Burnout Inventory, and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale. Follow-up surveys were conducted at six and 12 months. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were fitted to determine the effect of the Trauma Consult Service on burnout symptoms during the inaugural year of the service. Results A total of 29 survey responses were received from Trauma Consult Physicians (n=13), Trauma Team Leaders (n=9), and Trauma Consult Nurses (n=7). Nearly all were full-time employees (96.6%), and most had 6-10 years of experience providing trauma care (58.6%). At the one-year follow-up, there were reductions in the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, which measures personal and work-related burnout, as well as in the Maslach Burnout Inventory's single-item measures for emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. Generalized estimating equation models revealed increased staff engagement across all Utrecht Work Engagement Scales. Notably, few participants reported using mental health resources to improve their well-being (3.4%). Conclusion Burnout symptoms among physicians and nurses were reduced at one year post-implementation of a dedicated inpatient Trauma Consult Service. Further investigation is warranted to understand how system-level changes impact burnout. These findings suggest that Canadian emergency medicine providers could benefit from exploring system-level role modifications, such as dedicated trauma services, as a potential strategy to mitigate clinician burnout and enhance workforce engagement.