Surgery on the edge: shaping the future between motivation, burnout, and gender inequities—a narrative review
By
Andrea Cavallaro
Antonio Zanghì
Paolo Di Mattia
Francesco Cappellani
Francesco Leonforte
Kenya Tiralongo
July 2, 2026
Clinical Scorecard: Navigating the Future of Surgery: Exploring Motivation, Burnout, and Gender Disparities—A Narrative Review
At a Glance
Category Detail
Condition Burnout in General Surgery Key Mechanisms Emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, reduced personal accomplishment Target Population General surgery residents and experienced surgeons Care Setting Healthcare systems
Key Highlights
Increasing trend of surgical residents pursuing subspecialization or alternative careers Burnout is a major public health concern in healthcare systems Generational shifts in expectations regarding work-life balance and professional sustainability Burnout dimensions significantly impair individual well-being and professional performance Emerging evidence links burnout to deterioration in health behaviors Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Assess burnout through dimensions of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment Management
Address systemic constraints and improve working conditions to mitigate burnout Monitoring & Follow-up
Regularly evaluate burnout prevalence among surgical trainees and practicing surgeons Risks
Chronic stress and adverse working conditions contribute to increased attrition in surgery Patient & Prescribing Data
Not applicable as the focus is on surgical workforce
Addressing burnout may improve retention and satisfaction among surgeons
Clinical Best Practices
Implement mentorship programs to support surgical trainees Promote work-life balance initiatives within surgical training programs Foster a supportive organizational culture to reduce burnout Related Resources & Content
