Mohs Surgeon Burn Out Study

Principal Investigator: Dr. Lam

Address: Penn State Health 500 University Dr. Hershey, Pa., 17033

Telephone Numbers: Weekdays: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (717) 531­1513.

You are being invited to volunteer to participate in a research study. Research studies include only people who voluntarily choose to take part. This summary explains information about this research. You are urged to ask questions about anything that is unclear to you.

The level of physician burnout has now been well-­documented to be growing at epidemic proportions. Burnout is defined as emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and sense of low personal accomplishment. The prevalence of burnout among physicians rose from 45.5% in 2011 to 54.4% in 2014. Among Dermatologists, the increase was even more significant, rising from 31.8% in 2011 to 56.5% in 2014, a 24.7% increase – higher than any other specialty reported.

This study will identify the specific behaviors that make physicians resilient and therefore unlikely to experience burnout or able to recover quickly should it occur. We will do this by inviting Physicians to participate in an on­line survey. You will be asked questions that directly reflect your level of burn­out. The survey will help identify traits that we will formulate specific efficient interventions to individual physicians to help prevent and reduce levels of burn­out. At the end of the survey you will be asked if you would like be included in Phase 2 of the research. You can participate in the first survey regardless if you would like to be included in Phase 2. If you chose to participate in the second portion of the study you will not know your individual burn­out score. You will only be provided with techniques that will help foster your personal resilience to burn­out. You will be given areas of improvement and how to improve them. Everyone who participated in the Phase One portion of the study will be sent the survey again 6 months later. This will help the team analyze whether the techniques provided were helpful in decreasing burn­out and increase resilience.

It will take approximately 15 minutes of your time to complete the on­line survey. Study duration is approximately 6 months long.

There is a slight chance that thinking about or answering questions about your work could cause you to have negative feelings. If at any point you wish to leave the on­line survey you may do so.

There is a risk of loss of confidentiality if your information or your identity is obtained by someone other than the investigators, but precautions will be taken to prevent this from happening. The confidentiality of your electronic data created by you or by the researchers will be maintained to the degree permitted by the technology used. All surveys will be kept in a Penn State secure data collection system; REDCap. Absolute confidentiality cannot be guaranteed.

The information gained from the first survey will help the study team understand the causes of burn­out in Mohs surgeons. You may benefit from participating in this study if you chose to participate in the second portion where you receive personal resilience profile and protocols to develop the resilience factors and increase the fulfillment you receive from the practice of medicine.

You will not be paid for completing the on­line survey, it is voluntary.

The Department of Dermatology at Penn State Health hired consulting firm, CFR Advisory LLC, to perform the design of the survey, analysis the results and provide feedback to those who indicate they want to receive a follow up e­mail.

The PSU Institutional Review Board, the Human Subjects Protection Office and the Research Quality Assurance Office at HMC/PSU, the sponsor (if applicable), and Office for Human Research Protections (if applicable) in the Department of Health and Human Services may need to read your medical and research records if they need to review this study as part of their duties.

In the event of any publication or presentation resulting from the research, no personally identifiable information will be shared.

You have the right to ask any questions you may have about this research. If you have questions, complaints or concerns or believe you may have been harmed from participating in this research, you should contact Dr. Lam at 717­531­1513. If you have questions regarding your rights as a research subject or concerns regarding your privacy, you may contact the research protection advocate in the HMC Human Subjects Protection Office at 717­531­5687. You may call this number to discuss any problems, concerns or questions; get information or offer input.

You do not have to participate in this research. Taking part in the research study is voluntary. Your decision to participate or to decline the research will not result in any penalty or loss of benefits to which you are entitled.

Your completion of the survey implies your voluntary consent to participate in the research and to allow your information to be used and shared as described above.