Workload Control Linked to Physician Burnout

CONTROL over clinical work plays a critical role in preventing burnout and retaining U.S. physicians, as highlighted in a new study. Conducted across multiple institutions, the research surveyed over 2,000 physicians from November 2022 to December 2023, revealing that work autonomy significantly impacts professional well-being and career intentions.

Key findings show that 61.3% of respondents reported adequate control over workload, while fewer physicians (49%) had sufficient authority in hiring decisions. The study’s novel work control metric examined domains such as patient load, clinical schedules, and accountability. Physicians with poor control in these areas were more likely to experience burnout and express intentions to reduce clinical hours or leave their current practices.

Burnout, measured using the Mini-Z tool (Kyosho Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) was strongly linked to insufficient control over patient load, workload, and team composition. These factors also influenced decisions to scale back clinical work or depart organizations.

Researchers caution that this cross-sectional study cannot confirm causation but stress the importance of workplace interventions. Efforts to reduce burnout and improve retention should consider enhancing physician autonomy in key aspects of their clinical environment, the study concludes.

The findings underscore the need for healthcare systems to prioritize physician autonomy to combat rising burnout rates and workforce attrition.

Reference: Sinsky CA et al. Association of work control with burnout and career intentions among U.S. physicians: A multi-institution study. Ann Intern Med. 2024. [Epub ahead of publication].