AWARE: Anaesthesia trainee wellbeing at respective educational institutions: A national prospective study of…

Cohort studyThe South African journal of psychiatry : SAJP : the journal of the Society of Psychiatrists of South Africa· 2026

AWARE: Anaesthesia trainee wellbeing at respective educational institutions: A national prospective study of burnout, depressive symptoms and occupational stress.

Ryan van der Merwe, Thenjiwe Hlongwane, Patricia Brown, Palesa Mogane

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Mood DisordersCohort studyClinical practiceQ3IF 1.3

One in five anaesthesia trainees met criteria for burnout, depression, and stress

AWARE: Anaesthesia trainee wellbeing at respective educational institutions: A national prospective study of burnout, depressive symptoms and occupational stress.

Ryan van der Merwe … Palesa Mogane

The South African journal of psychiatry · 2026 · Q3 in Psychiatry

Background

Anaesthesia trainees are at increased risk of burnout and depression - with occupational stress recognised as a trigger for both.

Purpose

This study aimed to describe a composite mental well-being profile of South African anaesthesia trainees, focusing on burnout, depression screening, occupational stress and associated risk factors.

Methods

Were recruited via convenience sampling through engagement with study representatives.

n = 194 trainees

Results

one in five had all three problems at once, burnout, depression and stress

28%

Burnout

45%

Depression screen posi

74%

Chronic occupational s

More results

Of the 194 trainees, 54 (28%) met burnout criteria, 88 (45%) screened positive for depression and 144 (74%) demonstrated chronic occupational stress.

Risk factors included: previous and/or current treatment for psychiatric illness, registrars in their second year of training and self-prescribing anxiolytics and antidepressants.

“

Conclusion · 1 of 2

Burnout rates in this population closely approximate international estimates; however, both depressive symptoms and occupational stress prevalence exceed international figures.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

CONTRIBUTION: This first-of-its-kind study provided a composite insight into the mental well-being profile of South African anaesthesia trainees, identifying a bigger cohort at risk of burnout and/or depression in the near future.

AWARE: Anaesthesia trainee wellbeing at respective educational institutions: A national prospective study of burnout, depressive symptoms and occupational stress.

AWARE: Anaesthesia trainee wellbeing at respective educational institutions: A national prospective study of burnout, depressive symptoms and occupational stress.

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