Canine companionship as a resilience factor: a quantitative inquiry into the impact of pet ownership on burnout mitigation among radiologists and radiographers.

BACKGROUND

The demanding nature of diagnostic imaging, coupled with the increasing workload and exposure to high-stress scenarios, underscores the pressing concern of burnout among radiologists and radiographers in modern healthcare settings. The objective was to investigate the interplay between family characteristics, workplace characteristics, pet ownership, and the occurrence of burnout.

METHODS

An online, quantitative, cross-sectional study with a non-random, purposive sampling method was carried out among Hungarian radiologists and radiographers from 1st of September to 1st of November 2022.

RESULTS

We examined the results of 406 responses predominantly from females (79.8%, = 324), including 70.7% radiographers ( = 287). Cronbach's alpha values for depersonalization (DP), emotional exhaustion (EE), and personal accomplishment (PA) were 0.74, 0.88, and 0.85, respectively. Average burnout scores were 8.35 (SD = 6.62) for DP, 26.26 (SD = 12.74) for EE, and 32.86 (SD = 9.52) for PA. DP demonstrated a balanced distribution (low: 35.7%, moderate: 27.3%, high: 36.9%). Conversely, EE and PA skewed towards high levels, with 52.5% ( = 213) and 49.5% ( = 201). Significant associations were found between gender and DP ( = 0.006), age (31-40 years) and DP/PA ( < 0.001; = 0.004), absence of children and all burnout dimensions ( < 0.05), and pet ownership ( = 0.004) with lower EE, particularly for dog owners ( = 0.009). Occupation lacked a significant effect on burnout dimensions ( > 0.05). Employees without a second job had higher EE ( = 0.002) and lower PA ( = 0.008). Increasing healthcare experience correlated with decreased DP values ( = 0.001), while working over 40 h weekly negatively impacted all burnout dimensions ( ≤ 0.05). 15.5% ( = 63) exhibited signs of high burnout, with the age group 31-40 demonstrating the highest proportion (25.4%, = 27) and significant associations with marital status, absence of children, pet ownership, private healthcare, 10-19 years in healthcare, and working over 40 h weekly.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a pressing need for evidence-based strategies to alleviate burnout among radiologists and radiographers. There is a growing importance of recognizing the role of pets, especially dogs, as valuable companions for emotional support and stress relief. Implementing pet-friendly policies or therapy programs can contribute to a positive and supportive workplace, potentially mitigating burnout among essential frontline healthcare professionals.