Physician Well Being: Overall Improvement Seen But Burnout Risk Remains

Physicians are still at risk burnout, but some improvement in well being has been observed in this study.

Overall physician well-being seems to be improving, but the risk of burnouts still remains, finds a new study. The results of this study are published in the journal of Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

The good news is that physician burnout appears to be improving, along with indicators for physician well-being. However, physicians remain at high risk for burnout, depression, and depersonalization, compared to other professionals.

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‘In the study, it was found that while burnout varied by the specialist, overall reported levels of burnout and satisfaction with work-life integration improved between 2014 and 2017; but only to 2011 levels.’

"This is good news. It shows that burnout is being addressed nationally and programs are having some impact," says Lotte Dyrbye, M.D., Mayo Clinic researcher and senior author of the paper. "Clearly more organizational change and more research is needed to sustain this trajectory."

Researchers from Mayo Clinic, the American Medical Association, and Stanford University collaborated in the national survey of physicians across more than 20 specialties to assess any changes between the previous study in 2014 and the original survey in 2011. While burnout varies by a specialist, overall reported levels of burnout and satisfaction with work-life integration improved between 2014 and 2017 -- but only to 2011 levels. The researchers say individual and organizational efforts have improved the situation, but more work needs to be done.

Burnout encompasses many aspects but includes the areas of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, distress, and depression. Extreme cases of burnout can lead to medical errors affecting patients, job loss and suicide. Survey responders say the demands of updating electronic health records are a major factor in burnout. These demands limit the time physicians can spend with patients, and that affects career satisfaction.

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More than 30,000 physicians were invited to participate in the electronic survey. Roughly 17 percent (5,197) responded, and a second attempt to reach nonrespondents gained 248 more participants. Questions mirrored those on the previous surveys.

Researchers say the reason for the change may be due to physicians adapting to the new work environments over the three years. Also, much progress may be attributed to interventional programs to stem burnout in hospitals and other facilities. Conversely, they say the indicators may have improved because many distressed physicians have left the profession.

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Doctor-patient relationship has changed; patients change physicians often; insurance companies dictate terms and doctors have serious limitations in deciding the course of treatment. Doctors are naturally tired and suffer a burnout.

Source-Eurekalert

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