SWeAT - Stress, Satisfaction and Wellbeing in Anaesthetic Training Study 

Project Lead:  Alex Looseley (STAR)

This was a collaboration between STAR, SWARM and WAAREN led by STAR. Levels of stress and burnout have never been fully explored in UK anaesthetic trainees. Job satisfaction, stress and burnout may impact not only the health and wellbeing of anaesthetic trainees – who represent a sizeable and vital NHS workforce – but also, potentially impact the patients they treat. Exploration of these issues is required in order to identify ways in which the professional satisfaction and wellbeing of anaesthetic trainees can be optimised.

The aim of this study was to provide current, accurate information to those involved in the training, mentoring, supervision and management of UK anaesthetic trainees and to help guide and inform current and future resources designed to support this group. All anaesthetic trainees were eligible.

Participation involved:

1. A confidential online questionnaire

2. The potential for a more detailed telephone interview

Quantitative and qualitative data from this project were recently published in Anaesthesia in October 2019 - https://doi.org/10.1111/anae.14694

E.  Wainwright, A. Looseley, R. Mouton, M. O’Connor, G. Taylor, T.M. Cook for the SWeAT study investigator group, Stress, burnout, depression and work satisfaction among UK anaesthetic trainees: a qualitative analysis of in‐depth participant interviews in the Satisfaction and Wellbeing in Anaesthetic Training study, Anaesthesia 2019: 74 (10), 1240-51