Prevention and Management of Burnout for Healthcare Professionals
Burnout is an improperly managed state of chronic workplace stress, with feelings of emotional exhaustion, detachment or cynicism, and lack of fulfillment. This chart answers questions about managing and preventing burnout. Find more in our chart, Dealing With Stress: Healthy Habits and Resources.
Question |
Answer/Pertinent Information |
What factors contribute to burnout? |
Examples of individual or personal factors that may contribute to burnout include:1,2,5,16
Examples of work environment factors that may contribute to burnout include:1,2,5,16
|
What are consequences of burnout? |
Examples of possible consequences to the individual experiencing burnout include:1,12
Examples of possible consequences to leadership, employers, or healthcare organizations include:1,10,11
Examples of possible consequences to patients include:1,9
|
How can you identify burnout? |
Watch for signs and symptoms. Signs and symptoms of burnout include:2,4,8
Use a tool.1 Examples of objective measurement tools that can be used to identify burnout are:
|
What are general recommendations to reduce the risk of burnout? |
General suggestions to reduce the risk of burnout that anyone can do include:3,13
|
What can pharmacy technicians or trainees (e.g., residents, students) do to reduce the risk of burnout? |
Things an individual can do to reduce the risk of or manage burnout include:
|
What can prescribers or pharmacists do to reduce the risk of burnout? |
Specific things prescribers or pharmacists can to do reduce the risk of or manage burnout include:
|
What can leadership (e.g., managers, supervisors, preceptors) do to reduce the risk of burnout among subordinates and trainees (e.g., students, residents)? |
Examples of ways leadership can reduce the risk of burnout for individuals include:3
|
What can organizations (e.g., employers, healthcare organizations, residency programs) do to reduce the risk of burnout? |
Examples of things to do to prevent or manage burnout at an organizational level include:
|
References
- National Academy of Medicine. Clinician well-being knowledge hub. https://nam.edu/clinicianwellbeing/. (Accessed March 26, 2021).
- Potter JM, Cadiz ML. Addressing burnout with well-being in pharmacy residency training programs. Am J Pharm Educ 2021;85:8287. doi: 10.5688/ajpe8287.
- Arendt DD, Boyle JA. When resiliency is not enough: addressing the structure of a residency program and its contribution to pharmacy resident burnout. Am J Health Syst Pharm 2021 Feb 21;zsab067. doi: 10.1093/ajhp/zxab067.
- Durham ME, Bush PW, Ball AM. Evidence of burnout in health-system pharmacists. Am J Health Syst Pharm 2018;75(Suppl 4):S93-100.
- Zinurova E, DeHart R. Perceived stress, stressors, and coping mechanisms among PGY1 pharmacy residents. Am J Pharm Educ 2018;82:6574.
- Mind Garden. Maslach burnout inventory. https://www.mindgarden.com/117-maslach-burnout-inventory-mbi. (Accessed March 26, 2021).
- Oldenburg Burnout Inventory Scoring. https://www.papsych.org/uploads/1/0/3/6/103628808/oldenburg_burnout_inventory.pdf. (Accessed March 26, 2021).
- StatPearls. Provider burnout. November 15, 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538330/. (Accessed March 26, 2021).
- Vahey DC, Aiken LH, Sloane DM, et al. Nurse burnout and patient satisfaction. Med Care 2004;42(Suppl 2):II57-66.
- Berg S. At Stanford, physician burnout costs at least $7.75 million a year. November 17, 2017. https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/physician-health/stanford-physician-burnout-costs-least-775-million-year. (Accessed March 26, 2021).
- Buchbinder SB, Wilson M, Melic CF, Powe NR. Estimates of costs of primary care physician turnover. Am J Manag Care 1999;5:1431-8.
- Salvagioni DA, Melanda FC, Mesas AE, et al. Physical, psychological and occupational consequences of job burnout: a systematic review of prospective studies. PLoS One 2017;12:e0185781.
- Padgett EH, Grantner GR. Pharmacist burnout and stress. May 15, 2020. https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/pharmacist-burnout-and-stress. (Accessed March 26, 2021).
- Kantree. How to avoid burnout (and work smarter, not harder). January 8, 2019. https://kantree.io/blog/leadership/2019/08/how-to-avoid-burnout-and-work-smarter-not-harder. (Accessed March 26, 2021).
- Peakslead. How to avoid project burnout. https://peakslead.com/how-to-avoid-project-burnout/. (Accessed March 26, 2021).
- Gabriel KP, Aguinis H. How to prevent and combat employee burnout and create healthier workplaces during crises and beyond. February 4, 2021. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0007681321000392. (Accessed March 26, 2021).
- Kleinpell R. Using quality improvement strategies to address burnout and promote a healthy work culture. https://www.sccm.org/Communications/Critical-Connections/Archives/2019/Using-Quality-Improvement-Strategies-to-Address-Bu. (Accessed March 26, 2021).
- American Psychiatric Association Foundation. Employee assistance programs. http://workplacementalhealth.org/Mental-Health-Topics/Employee-Assistance-Programs. (Accessed March 26, 2021).
- American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Guidance document for the ASHP accreditation standard for postgraduate year one (PGY1) pharmacy residency programs. August 2020. https://www.ashp.org/-/media/assets/professional-development/residencies/docs/guidance-document-PGY1-standards.ashx. (Accessed March 26, 2021).
Cite this document as follows: Clinical Resource, Prevention and Management of Burnout for Healthcare Professionals. Pharmacist’s Letter/Prescriber’s Letter. April 2021. [370419]