Physician burnout increasing in US, COVID-19 one of many factors

Editor's Note

An October 2023 investigative study published by JAMA Network looked at physician burnout among US physicians over the past 5 years and found that burnout is increasing, JAMA October 6 reports. According to the study, burnout is a threat to the US healthcare system and physicians' ability to care for patients. 

The study involved 1,373 physician faculty members of the Massachusetts General Physicians Organization over three survey periods: 2017, 2019, and 2021. Participants represented different clinical specialties and a range of career stages. Physicians were surveyed based on career and compensation satisfaction, well-being, administrative workload, and leadership and diversity.

Significantly higher burnout rates were found:

• among female physicians compared with their male counterparts
• with primary care physicians compared to those of other specialties
• and physicians with 10 years of experience or less compared to those with more experience.

The findings indicate that the physician burnout rate more than doubled between 2019 and 2021, driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting other studies. It also revealed an association between burnout and personal and professional factors, such as experience and administrative tasks.