Table 3

Descriptive statistics of defensive practice by burnout status

Doctor categoryAvoidance*Hedging†Any DMP‡
Burnout status§Mean score% elevatedMean score% elevated%
Consultant
 No burnout (n=1002)1.0553 (5%)3.9567 (7%)101 (10%)
 Burnout (n=460)2.1472 (16%)7.7997 (21%)130 (28%)
SAS
 No burnout (n=178)0.723 (2%)1.742 (1%)5 (3%)
 Burnout (n=76)1.9210 (13%)5.349 (12%)15 (20%)
Trainees
 No burnout (n=777)0.5915 (2%)3.3025 (3%)36 (5%)
 Burnout (n=580)1.3843 (7%)6.4689 (15%)113 (19%)
All doctors
 No burnout (n=1957)0.8471 (4%)3.4994 (5%)142 (7%)
 Burnout (n=1116)1.73125 (11%)6.93195 (17%)258 (23%)
OR¶ (95%  CI ) 3.34 (2.48 to 4.53)4.18 (3.24 to 5.43)3.84 (3.08 to 4.79)
  • *Scores of ≥13 (range 0–36) are considered elevated and indicate avoidance behaviour.

  • †Scores of ≥5 (range 0–12) are considered elevated and indicate hedging behaviour.

  • ‡Defined as elevated levels of avoidance and/or hedging behaviour.

  • §Burnout defined as an emotional exhaustion score ≥27 (range 0-54) and/or depersonalisation score ≥10 (range 0–30) in accordance with the Maslach Burnout Inventory.

  • ¶ORs are based on univariable logistic regression with Firth bias correction.

  • DMP, Defensive Medical Practice; SAS, Specialty and Associate Specialist Doctors.