ArticleArchives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery2025
Perfectionism leads to burnout and depression among orthopaedic surgeons and residents.
Article in Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Taxing working memory during laparoscopic training: reducing the impact of perfectionistic concerns on skill learning.Surgical endoscopy · 2026Trial
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionPerfection can be a goal within orthopaedic surgery, but it can be associated with depression and/or burnout. The purpose of this study was to determine if there was an association between being a perfectionist and depression and/or burnout among orthopaedic surgeons.
methodsWe performed a multi-institutional survey study of orthopaedic surgery residents and faculty. The survey collected demographic data and levels of perfectionism as measured by the validated Positive and Negative Perfectionism Scale (PANPS). The PANPS divides perfection into two types: positive, associated with feelings of pride in one's work, a sense of accomplishment, respect from peers, and a desire to explore the limits of knowledge; and negative, associated with unattainably high expectations, excessive and unnecessary criticism of self and others, and self-doubt. Depression and burnout levels were measured using the validated Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT).
resultsThere were 76 respondents (11 residents and 65 attending physicians) of whom 64 (84.2%) were male and 12 (15.8%) were female. Of these respondents, 18 (23.7%) met the threshold for clinical burnout, and 25 (32.9%) met the threshold for mild depression. Having children was protective against negative aspects of perfectionism (OR 0.30; 95% CI 0.09-1.0; p = 0.049) and was associated with decreased levels of burnout (OR 0.27; 95% CI 0.08-0.91; p = 0.034). Being a perfectionist was associated with higher clinical burnout levels (OR 5.0; 95% CI 1.5-16.9; p = 0.011) and depression (OR 4.0; 95% CI 1.4-11.3; p = 0.009).
conclusionsNegative perfectionist tendencies such as unrealistic self-expectations, excessive self-criticism, and irrational fear of failure are associated with burnout and depression among orthopaedic surgeons. Having children is a protective factor against perfectionism and burnout. These results highlight the importance of understanding perfection within orthopaedic surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.
Indexed as
Identifiers
40736561What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.