Work overload linked to HCW burnout, intent to leave during COVID-19

Editor's Note

This study led by researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, found high rates of burnout and intent to leave the job across all healthcare workers (HCWs), including physicians, nurses, support staff, and healthcare teams during COVID-19.

A total of 43,026 HCWs from 206 large healthcare organizations reported in the American Medical Association’s Coping with COVID Survey from April to December 2020 were included in the analysis.

Among the findings:

• Overall burnout rate was 49.9%—nurses (56%), other clinical staff (54.1%), physicians (47.3%), and nonclinical staff (45.6%).
• Intent to leave was reported by 28.7% of HCWs—nurses (41%), nonclinical staff (32.6%), other clinical staff (32.1%), physicians (24.3%).
• Prevalence of perceived work overload ranged from 37.1% in physicians to 47.4% in other clinical staff, and work overload was significantly associated with burnout and intent to leave across all role types.

The researchers concluded that there are high rates of burnout and intent to leave across all HCW roles, and that proactively addressing work overload across all roles may help with these concerning trends.