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New Year, New Approach: Taking Action on Burnout Prevention

No one is immune to burnout. As pressures on the healthcare system mount, burnout has become a serious issue for physicians and others. We review the latest evidence and discuss strategies and approaches for minimizing risk. 

Session Summary

Session Hosts: Dr. Emma Billington & Dr. Elizabeth Monaghan

Presenters & Panelists: Dr. Adina McBain & Dr. Jim Kutsogiannis

Session Objectives: At the end of this webinar, you will be able to:

  • Explain 5 current themes related to physician burnout.
  • Describe systemic and individual strategies to prevent burnout and enhance well-being.

Recommended Resources: 

Session Highlights & Themes:

Burnout is an occupational phenomenon resulting from chronic workplace stress, and is characterized by

  • Emotional exhaustion
  • Cynicism
  • A sense of reduced professional efficacy

Five particular trends emerging from recent literature relating to burnout include

  • It's not about personal resilience
  • System change is key
  • Job crafting can be an effective tool in mitigating burnout along with
    • Connection to peers
    • Connection to self 

Personal resilience
Physicians are inherently more resilient than the average working population. While higher resilience scores reduce burnout risk, nearly 30% of physicians with the highest possible resilience scores still experience burnout. The root cause of burnout lies in the work environment, not individual resilience.

System change
The CMA asserts that addressing physician burnout requires systemic change, not just individual coping strategies. 

Key solutions (from OMA document linked in Recommended Resources) include:

  • Improving workload management
  • Ensuring fair compensation
  • Enhancing work-life balance
  • Integrating digital tools into workflows
  • Providing institutional support for wellness.

Research shows that burnout risk increases with added work hours, emphasizing the need for organizational reforms to reduce this strain.

Job crafting
Job crafting involves three key areas:

  • Task crafting, which focuses on altering aspects of your work or shifting tasks
  • Cognitive crafting, which is about changing your mindset to focus on rewarding aspects of your job
  • Relational crafting, which involves working with people you connect with and enjoy 

These strategies help enhance job satisfaction and reduce burnout.

Connection to Peers
Social interactions and professional relationships are critical in protecting against burnout. Fostering community among physicians is essential. Reinforcing connections can help combat the isolation often experienced in the workplace.

Connection to Self 
Connection to self/self compassion involves treating ourselves with the same kindness we offer to others. It has three components:

  • Mindfulness to recognize stress
  • Self-kindness to forgive mistakes
  • Connectedness to remember we’re all human. 

Embracing self-compassion fosters resilience and alleviates feelings of isolation.

 

 

 

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