Different artificial neural networks for predicting burnout risk in Italian anesthesiologists

Background: Burnout (BO) is a serious issue affecting professionals across various sectors, leading to adverse psychological and occupational consequences, even in anesthesiologists. Machine learning, particularly neural networks, can offer effective data-driven approaches to identifying BO risk more accurately. This study aims to develop and evaluate different artificial dense neural network (DNN)-based models to predict BO based on occupational, psychological, and behavioral factors. Methods: A dataset (300 Italian anesthesiologists) comprising workplace stressors, psychological well-being indicators, and demographic variables was used to train DNN models. Model performance was measured using standard evaluation metrics, including accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score. Statistical tests were adopted to assess differences in prediction across the DNNs. Results: The best neural architecture achieved a predictive accuracy of 0.68, with key contributors to BO including workload, emotional exhaustion, job dissatisfaction, and lack of work-life balance. Despite substantial differences among the six implemented algorithms, no significant variation in prediction performance was observed. Conclusion: Psychological distress scores are significantly higher in the high-risk BO group, suggesting greater anxiety, depression, and overall distress in this category. While challenges remain, continued advancements in artificial intelligence and data science promise more effective and personalized mental health care solutions. Trial registration: Not applicable.