Work-related musculoskeletal symptoms and burnout among anesthesia residents in Saudi Arabia: a descriptive cross-sectional study

Background Burnout and work-related musculoskeletal (MSK) symptoms are increasingly recognized occupational hazards in anesthesiology; yet, resident-specific data remain limited. This study assessed their prevalence, interrelationships, and predictors among anesthesia residents. Methods In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 102 anesthesia residents (training levels R1–R5) from across Saudi Arabia completed an anonymous online survey. MSK symptoms were assessed using a structured work-related pain questionnaire based on the Standardised Nordic Questionnaire, and burnout was assessed with the 23-item core Burnout Assessment Tool. Associations were analyzed using nonparametric tests and multivariable linear regression, with effect sizes and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results The MSK symptom burden was high (mean work-related pain score = 4.91 ± 2.40), predominantly affecting the lower back, feet, neck, and shoulders. The mean burnout score was 2.42 ± 0.69, below the BAT-23 “at risk” cut-off of 2.59; 14.7% of residents were at risk and 16.7% had severe burnout, and exhaustion was the most strongly affected domain. The MSK burden was moderately correlated with burnout ( ρ = 0.476, 95% CI 0.30 to 0.62, p < 0.001) and was the only significant predictor in the multivariable model ( B = 0.137, 95% CI 0.069 to 0.206, β = 0.40, p < 0.001); the model explained 24.3% of the variance (adjusted R 2 = 0.175), and the association persisted after adjustment for sex. Shift duration was weakly correlated with burnout ( ρ = 0.244), whereas the correlation with weekly working days was not statistically significant ( ρ = 0.178). Burnout showed a modest increasing trend across training levels (Jonckheere–Terpstra p = 0.015), although the omnibus test was not significant; MSK burden did not differ by training level. Female residents reported higher burnout ( p = 0.025, r = 0.22) and MSK burden ( p = 0.049, r = 0.19), and female sex was independently associated with burnout after adjustment. Conclusion The MSK symptom burden is high and predominantly affects posture-dependent regions. Greater MSK burden was independently associated with higher burnout after adjustment for workload, age, training level, and sex. These cross-sectional findings are hypothesis-generating but support evaluating ergonomic education and wellness strategies within residency training.