Student Scientific Activity as a Factor in Professional Development and Resilience to Burnout Among Surgeons

Background/Objectives: Professional burnout is widespread among surgeons. Despite the abundance of research on organizational factors, little attention has been paid to the resources developed during training that may protect against burnout. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between involvement in student research and prac-tical clubs (SRPCs) during training and burnout symptoms during surgical practice, as well as subjective assessments of career progression in surgical graduates. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 96 surgeons (32 women, 64 men; mean age 33.1 ± 6.4 years) who participated in the SRPC over a 20-year period was conducted. Burnout was assessed us-ing the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) questionnaire. Involvement indicators (duration, activity) were combined into an integrative activity index using the principal component analysis. Multiple linear regression analysis and Spearman's rank correlation analysis were used. Results: The sample was characterized by a favorable burnout profile: emo-tional exhaustion at a medium/high level was detected in 71.9%, depersonalization at a low level was detected in 62.5% (high level in only 7.3%), and there was no reduction in professional achievements. Regression analysis revealed a strong negative relationship between the integrative activity index and depersonalization (β = –0.740, p < 0.001, R² = 0.535, f² = 1.15): higher involvement in SRPC was associated with a lower level of deper-sonalization. No significant connections were found with emotional exhaustion and re-duction in achievements. Subjective assessment of the impact of SRPC on one’s career was negatively correlated with depersonalization (rₛ = –0.517, p < 0.001) and emotional ex-haustion (rₛ = –0.319, p = 0.002). Conclusions: Engagement in student research can act as a protective resource against depersonalization, a key component of burnout, by promoting meaningful professional interactions and strengthening professional identity. The find-ings support the need to support SRPC in medical schools not only as a means of training research personnel but also as a tool for preventing professional strain and burnout among actively working surgeons.