Burnout won’t be solved with a single bandage. Radiologists could work for smaller practices. Imaging practices could establish systems of communication to mental health. Medical schools can alter programs to encourage wellness.
Authors of a systematic review and meta-analysis, published online Sept. 4 in JAMA Internal Medicine, quantified evidence to identify primary consequences of burnout, while including actionable steps for organizations to mitigate its effects. Though the research examines physicians as a whole, the conclusions are applicable to medical imaging—where half of all radiologists report symptoms of burnout.
“This meta-analysis provides evidence that physician burnout may jeopardize patientcare,” wrote Maria Panagioti, PhD, with the National Institute for Health Research in Manchester, United Kingdom, and colleagues. “[R]eversal of this risk has to be viewed as a fundamental healthcare policy goal across the globe. Healthcare organizations are encouraged to invest in efforts to improve physician wellness, particularly for early-career physicians.”
The researchers identified 47 studies that included 42,473 physicians (59 percent male; median age of 38). Burnout was linked to increased risk to patient safety, decreased satisfaction and low professionalism. Residents and physicians early in their careers were especially prone to letting burnout affect professionalism.
“We found that physicians with burnout are twice as likely to be involved in patient safety incidents, twice as likely to deliver suboptimal care to patients owing to low professionalism and three-times more likely to receive low satisfaction ratings from patients,” Panagioti et al. wrote.
Considering these implications, the authors identified common problems caused by burnout and offered potential solutions:
Physician wellness: Quality and safety standards focus on patient outcomes, while often ignoring doctors who are vulnerable to burnout.
Depersonalization: The data linked patient dissatisfaction with feelings of disengaged physicians. Healthcare organizations should include measure depersonalization and strategize for system-level interventions when needed.
Self-reported outcomes: Most studies in the meta-analysis relied on information self-reported by physicians, which could miss certain outcomes related to burnout, such as instances that do not result in observable harm but still impact the patient-physician relationship. Reporting systems should be revised and standardized, so future studies can be more comprehensive.
Early-career blues: Considering the high number of burned out residents and physicians with less than five years of experience, the authors suggested organizations direct more resources to improving wellness and instilling professional values.
Nicholas joined TriMed in 2016 as the managing editor of the Chicago office. After receiving his master’s from Roosevelt University, he worked in various writing/editing roles for magazines ranging in topic from billiards to metallurgy. Currently on Chicago’s north side, Nicholas keeps busy by running, reading and talking to his two cats.