FolioStart free

Medicine · Literature

Research papers on Physician burnout

Recent and highly-cited academic work on physician burnout, gathered from Semantic Scholar, CrossRef and OpenAlex.

Search all 200M+ papers on this topic, free →Or track new physician burnout papers automatically as they publish

  1. Prevalence of Burnout Among Physicians

    Lisa S. Rotenstein, Matthew Torre, Marco Antonio Ramos, et al. · 2018 · JAMA · 1,899 citations

    Importance: Burnout is a self-reported job-related syndrome increasingly recognized as a critical factor affecting physicians and their patients. An accurate estimate of burnout prevalence among physicians would have important health policy implications, but the overall prevalence is unknown. Objective: To characterize the methods used to assess burnout and provide an estimate of the prevalence of physician burnout. Data Sources and Study Selection: Systematic search of EMBASE, ERIC, MEDLINE/PubMed, psycARTICLES, and psycINFO for studies on the prevalence of burnout in practicing physicians (ie, excluding physicians in training) published before June 1, 2018. Data Extraction and Synthesis: B

    Save this paper

  2. Burnout in Healthcare Workers: Prevalence, Impact and Preventative Strategies

    Stefan G. De Hert · 2020 · Local and Regional Anesthesia · 745 citations

    Abstract: Approximately, one in three physicians is experiencing burnout at any given time. This may not only interfere with own wellbeing but also with the quality of delivered care. This narrative review discusses several aspects of the burnout syndrome: prevalence, symptoms, etiopathogenesis, diagnosis, impact, and strategies on how to deal with the problem. Keywords: burnout, healthcare worker, prevalence, impact, symptoms, prevention

    Save this paper

  3. The Impact of COVID-19 on Healthcare Worker Wellness: A Scoping Review

    Jacob R. Shreffler, Martin R. Huecker, Jessica Petrey · 2020 · Western Journal of Emergency Medicine · 621 citations

    At the heart of the unparalleled crisis of COVID-19, healthcare workers (HCWs) face several challenges treating patients with COVID-19: reducing the spread of infection; developing suitable short-term strategies; and formulating long-term plans. The psychological burden and overall wellness of HCWs has received heightened awareness in news and research publications. The purpose of this study was to provide a review on current publications measuring the effects of COVID-19 on wellness of healthcare providers to inform interventional strategies. Between April 6-May 17, 2020, we conducted systematic searches using combinations of these keywords and synonyms in conjunction with the controlled vo

    Save this paper

  4. Workplace interventions to improve well-being and reduce burnout for nurses, physicians and allied healthcare professionals: a systematic review

    Catherine Cohen, Silvia Pignata, Eva Bezak, et al. · 2023 · BMJ Open · 510 citations

    There is a growing need for interventions to improve well-being in healthcare workers, particularly since the onset of COVID-19. OBJECTIVES: To synthesise evidence since 2015 on the impact of interventions designed to address well-being and burnout in physicians, nurses and allied healthcare professionals. DESIGN: Systematic literature review. DATA SOURCES: Medline, Embase, Emcare, CINAHL, PsycInfo and Google Scholar were searched in May-October 2022. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES: Studies that primarily investigated burnout and/or well-being and reported quantifiable preintervention and postintervention outcomes using validated well-being measures were included. DATA EXTRACTION

    Save this paper

  5. Burnout among physicians

    Maya Romani, Khalil Ashkar · 2014 · Libyan Journal of Medicine · 324 citations

    Burnout is a common syndrome seen in healthcare workers, particularly physicians who are exposed to a high level of stress at work; it includes emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and low personal accomplishment. Burnout among physicians has garnered significant attention because of the negative impact it renders on patient care and medical personnel. Physicians who had high burnout levels reportedly committed more medical errors. Stress management programs that range from relaxation to cognitive-behavioral and patient-centered therapy have been found to be of utmost significance when it comes to preventing and treating burnout. However, evidence is insufficient to support that stress m

    Save this paper

  6. Burnout among Portuguese healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

    Ivone Duarte, Andréia Teixeira, Luísa Castro, et al. · 2020 · BMC Public Health · 259 citations

    BACKGROUND: During COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers (HCWs) have had high workload and have been exposed to multiple psychosocial stressors. The aim of this study was to evaluate HCWs in terms of the relative contributions of socio-demographic and mental health variables on three burnout dimensions: personal, work-related, and client-related burnout. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed using an online questionnaire spread via social networks. A snowball technique supported by health care institutions and professional organizations was applied. RESULTS: A total of 2008 subjects completed the survey. Gender, parental status, marriage status, and salary reduction were found to be

    Save this paper

  7. The Impact of COVID-19 on Physician Burnout Globally: A Review

    Shabbir Amanullah, Rashmi Ramesh Shankar · 2020 · Healthcare · 201 citations

    Background: The current pandemic, COVID-19, has added to the already high levels of stress that medical professionals face globally. While most health professionals have had to shoulder the burden, physicians are not often recognized as being vulnerable and hence little attention is paid to morbidity and mortality within this group. Objective: To analyse and summarise the current knowledge on factors/potential factors contributing to burnout amongst healthcare professionals amidst the pandemic. This review also makes a few recommendations on how best to prepare intervention programmes for physicians. Methods: In August 2020, a systematic review was performed using the database Medline and Em

    Save this paper

  8. Physician Burnout

    Linda Gundersen · 2001 · Annals of Internal Medicine · 198 citations

    Current Clinical Issues17 July 2001Physician BurnoutLinda GundersenLinda GundersenAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-135-2-200107170-00023 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail "Self-love, my liege, is not so vile a sin/As self-neglecting." King Henry V, Act 2, scene 4Physicians are often prone to burnout because of their personality profiles. "We want people who are driven, who are competitive, who can excel at everything that they do. What do they do when they get into practice? They try to do everything, and they have this complex which also says they mus

    Save this paper

  9. Conceptualisation of job-related wellbeing, stress and burnout among healthcare workers in rural Ethiopia: a qualitative study

    Medhin Selamu, Graham Thornicroft, Abebaw Fekadu, et al. · 2017 · BMC Health Services Research · 88 citations

    BACKGROUND: Wellbeing of healthcare workers is important for the effective functioning of health systems. The aim of this study was to explore the conceptualisations of wellbeing, stress and burnout among healthcare workers in primary healthcare settings in rural Ethiopia in order to inform the development of contextually appropriate interventions. METHODS: A qualitative study was conducted in a rural zone of southern Ethiopia. A total of 52 frontline primary healthcare workers participated in in-depth interviews (n = 18) or Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) (4 groups, total n = 34). There were 35 facility based healthcare professionals and 17 community-based health workers. Data were analysed

    Save this paper

  12. Physician wellbeing and burnout in emergency medicine in Switzerland

    Eric Pieter Heymann, Valerie Romann, Rodrick K. Lim, et al. · 2024 · Swiss Medical Weekly · 23 citations

    Emergency physicians are the most at-risk medical specialist group for burnout. Given its consequences for patient care and physician health and its resulting increased attrition rates, ensuring the wellbeing of emergency physicians is vital for preserving the integrity of the safety net for the healthcare system that is emergency medicine. In an effort to understand the current state of practicing physicians, this study reviews the results of the first national e-survey on physician wellbeing and burnout in emergency medicine in Switzerland. Addressed to all emergency physicians between March and April 2023, it received 611 complete responses. More than half of respondents met at least one

    Save this paper

  14. Burnout Among Healthcare Workers: Insights for Holistic Well-Being

    Carina Fernandes, Carla Barros, Pilar Baylina · 2025 · Healthcare · 14 citations

    Background/Objectives: In the healthcare sector, burnout has become a critical concern due to high job demands and emotional strain. The main objective of the study is to examine the predictive role of psychosocial work-related risks in the development of burnout. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, using a snowball recruitment method, from May to September 2025, among 154 healthcare workers. Data were collected using the psychosocial risk factors scale (INSAT_ERPS) and the Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT) and analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics to analyze the predictive role of the psychosocial risk on burnout dimensions. Results: Psychosocial risk factors are cons

    Save this paper

  15. Editorial: Burnout, wellbeing and resilience of healthcare workers in the post-COVID world

    Mansoor Ahmad Malik, Kristina R. Weeks, Tanvi Ajay Bafna, et al. · 2025 · Frontiers in Medicine · 9 citations

    The majority of studies originate from middle income countries including China, Jordan, United Arab Emirates and Iran. Several studies originated from high income countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Sweden and Spain These studies paint a concerning yet actionable picture of healthcare worker wellbeing in the post-pandemic era. Across multiple countries and healthcare settings, researchers found persistently high rates of burnout and mental health challenges among healthcare professionals.Nurses and frontline workers were particularly vulnerable, with moral injury and lasting psychological scars. Several studies highlighted how systemic issues like chronic understaffing, exce

    Save this paper

  16. The Mental Wellbeing of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) Workers in England: A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study Reporting Levels of Burnout, Wellbeing and Job Satisfaction

    Silvana Mareva, Beth Chapman, Rebecca Hardwick, et al. · 2024 · Healthcare · 8 citations

    In the UK, there has been a notable increase in referrals to specialist children’s mental health services. This, coupled with shortages of qualified staff, has raised concerns about the escalating occupational stress experienced by staff in this sector. In this brief report, we present cross-sectional quantitative data from 97 staff members working in one Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) in the UK during spring 2023, reporting on their wellbeing, job satisfaction, and burnout. Our findings reveal that over a third of CAMHS staff experienced moderate or high levels of work-related burnout; 39% reported moderate or high levels of personal burnout, but levels of client-related

    Save this paper

  17. The Paradox of Care: Burnout Among Healthcare Workers

    Shevaun M. Teo, Sonja Moore, Shweta Rao · 2025 · Public health reviews · 5 citations

    Burnout is often defined as unsuccessfully managed chronic stress from work (WHO, 2019) and is a widespread issue amongst healthcare workers (HCWs). Recent meta‑analyses report prevalences ranging from over 70% among nurses and doctors to 56% in dietitians, 43% in emergency staff, and 40% in midwives (Alhaj et al., 2024). Within the HSE (Health Service Executive; Ireland's largest employer and main deliverer of health services), the pattern is equally concerning: a 2024 occupational health survey of acute and community services found burnout symptoms in 70% of respondents (O'Brien et al., 2024). While this and similar cross-sectional studies provide essential prevalence data, they often over

    Save this paper

  19. How COVID-19 changed frontline healthcare workers’ experiences: A narrative inquiry into the impact of chronic burnout on a surgical physician assistant’s wellness

    Lihua Dishman, Rhionna J. Smith · 2023 · Patient Experience Journal · 1 citations

    Burnout is an occupational phenomenon resulting from unmanaged chronic workplace stress. Since COVID-19 started, burnout among healthcare workers has worsened and become a public health crisis. Wellness is about leading a physically, mentally, and spiritually healthy lifestyle to achieve one’s full potential through positive affirmations. Its multiple dimensions include (1) physical, (2) emotional, (3) intellectual, (4) occupational, (5) social, and (6) spiritual. Extant empirical literature lacked regarding surgical physician assistants and how chronic burnout affected their wellness. This longitudinal narrative inquiry thus aimed to explore the perceived impact of a surgical physician assi

    Save this paper

  20. Retaining Healthcare Workers

    Neil Baum · 2024 · Physician Leadership Journal · 1 citations

    How can employers do a better job hiring and keeping healthcare workers? It is no news that hiring healthcare workers is difficult. Labor shortages are widespread, millennials and Gen Xers are expecting higher starting wages, and after employers hire and train a new employee, the risk that they will leave for a better paying job is rising fast. The cost of turnover is high, but it has always been higher than many practices realize and it’s probably bad for your bottom line.

    Save this paper

  21. As Consequências Do Burnout Nos Trabalhadores Da Área De Saúde Durante E Pós-Pandemia: The Consequences Of Burnout In Healthcare Workers During And After The Pandemic

    Letícia Mariane Silva, Maria Cristina Durante · 2026 · RCMOS - Revista Científica Multidisciplinar O Saber

    Burnout is a syndrome characterized by a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion resulting from chronic stress, especially in the workplace. It has three main pillars: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and low professional accomplishment. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this condition intensified, particularly among healthcare professionals working on the front lines. These workers faced work overload, prolonged hours, resource scarcity, a high risk of infection, and intense emotional pressure. The fear of exposure to the virus, social distancing, and uncertainty in the face of a critical scenario significantly contributed to the worsening of psychological suffering. As a co

    Save this paper

  22. Patient Burnout and Healthcare Delivery

    Anubhav Kaul · 2024 · Physician Leadership Journal

    Burnout is a psychological syndrome triggered by relentless stress caused by any aspect of one’s social, behavioral, and physical health. Patients with chronic healthcare needs are susceptible to prolonged stress, which can lead to burnout and negative health outcomes. Risk factors of patient burnout include ineffective interventions, overuse of low-value care, and mitigation of patient autonomy.

    Save this paper

Write your paper with these sources

Folio is the integrity-first research workspace: search 200M+ papers, save sources, and write with citations that format themselves. Free for students and researchers.

Start writing free →