Longitudinal Study Evaluating the Association between Physician Burnout and Changes in Professional Work Effort

Tait D. Shanafelt, Michelle Mungo, Jaime Schmitgen, Kristin A. Storz, David Reeves, Sharonne N. Hayes, Jeff A. Sloan, Stephen J. Swensen, Steven J. Buskirk

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

219 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective To longitudinally evaluate the relationship between burnout and professional satisfaction with changes in physicians' professional effort. Participants and Methods Administrative/payroll records were used to longitudinally evaluate the professional work effort of faculty physicians working for Mayo Clinic from October 1, 2008, to October 1, 2014. Professional effort was measured in full-time equivalent (FTE) units. Physicians were longitudinally surveyed in October 2011 and October 2013 with standardized tools to assess burnout and satisfaction. Results Between 2008 and 2014, the proportion of physicians working less than full-time at our organization increased from 13.5% to 16.0% (P=.05). Of the 2663 physicians surveyed in 2011 and 2776 physicians surveyed in 2013, 1856 (69.7%) and 2132 (76.9%), respectively, returned surveys. Burnout and satisfaction scores in 2011 correlated with actual reductions in FTE over the following 24 months as independently measured by administrative/payroll records. After controlling for age, sex, site, and specialty, each 1-point increase in the 7-point emotional exhaustion scale was associated with a greater likelihood of reducing FTE (odds ratio [OR], 1.43; 95% CI, 1.23-1.67; P<.001) over the following 24 months, and each 1-point decrease in the 5-point satisfaction score was associated with greater likelihood of reducing FTE (OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.03-1.74; P=.03). On longitudinal analysis at the individual physician level, each 1-point increase in emotional exhaustion (OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.05-1.55; P=.01) or 1-point decrease in satisfaction (OR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.19-2.35; P=.003) between 2011 and 2013 was associated with a greater likelihood of reducing FTE over the following 12 months. Conclusion Among physicians in a large health care organization, burnout and declining satisfaction were strongly associated with actual reductions in professional work effort over the following 24 months.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)422-431
Number of pages10
JournalMayo Clinic proceedings
Volume91
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1 2016

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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