‘Silent pandemic’ of burnout in health care industry addressed during OUWB workshop

Calling burnout a “silent pandemic” of which no one in health care is immune, two OUWB officials recently sought to do something about it 

“The Burnout Epidemic in Healthcare: Causes, Consequences, and Coping Strategies” recently was presented by Changiz Mohiyeddini, Ph.D., professor, Department of Foundational Medical Studies, and Pierre Morris, M.D., associate dean, Clinical Education. The workshop was hosted by the OUWB Center for Excellence in Medical Education.

The hope was to raise awareness of the issue, foster better understanding of the causes and mechanisms of burnout, and provide tips to avoid it.

“Medical students, physicians, nurses…(burnout) affects all of health care,” said Mohiyeddini.

The two relied on The Medscape Physician Burnout & Depression Report 2024 to shed light on the extent of the issue. The report was created after 9,226 people responded to a survey between July 5 and Oct. 9, 2023.

Forty-nine percent of physicians said they feel burned out with 83% citing professional stress as the primary contributor to their burnout. Work-related “bureaucratic tasks,” too many hours at work, and lack of respect were identified as leading causes of burnout. Additionally, women were more likely to report feeling burned out.

A different survey from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) looked at burnout specifically among medical school clinical faculty physicians. It found that 73% of the respondents were burned out or at risk of burnout.

“People are called to medicine because they are hard workers, risers to responsibility, self-starters, and driven to help those in need,” said Morris. “But when practice becomes much about compliance with outer demands that are in conflict with inner morals and record keeping compromises much of the day…we can become exhausted, detached, and pervaded by a sense of ineffectiveness…the burnout trio.”

The two also talked at length about moral injury. Mohiyeddini described it as “a complex psychological condition that is assumed to emerge following exposure to distressing events that challenge moral values or ethical beliefs of individual by direct commission, omission, observation, or betrayal by trusted leaders.”

“Turning doctors into drudges, drones, data entry experts, and diminished substitutes of themselves is a misuse of their talents and leads to moral injury,” said Mohiyeddini. “Our loss of joy in practice, our 50% rate of symptoms of burnout, may be due to moral injury in medicine.”

So, what happens when health care workers are burned out and/or suffering from moral injury?

Mohiyeddini explained that the psychology of burnout has three components: affective; cognitive; and behavioral.

The affective component results in feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion. The cognitive leads to increased mental distance from one’s job. And the behavioral component creates reduced professional efficacy (and is what most often leads to a person with burnout being fired).

“Normally, the affective component is what the people around you will see first,” said Mohiyeddini. “They’ll see it way before you ever realize it’s there.”

The pair identified several ways that physicians use to cope with burnout. According to the Medscape report, exercise, talking with family and/or friends, and sleep were the top mechanisms identified (see graphic for more).

Doctors also dealt with burnout by changing their work environment. Thirty-two percent reduced work hours, 25% changed work settings or got a different job, 22% changed workflow to ease workload, and 21% spoke with administrators about productivity pressure.

Further, 48% said increased compensation would help most with burnout, followed by 47% who suggested adding support staff, and 46% who recommended making work schedules more flexible (respondents could pick up to three answers).

The two also suggested that individuals develop ways to improve their resilience, of which there are several facets.

“Resiliency means you don’t fall very deep (into burnout) and you recover faster,” said Mohiyeddini.

To work on improving cognitive resilience, Mohiyeddini suggested a simple exercise. Specifically, he urged people to carry a small notebook or pen and write down any negative or challenging thoughts. (Don’t pay attention to grammar, etc.)

After about two hours (or when in a better mood), return to your writing and read it carefully. Then, cross out any thoughts that are exaggerated, pessimistic, or demotivating.

“By using this writing paradigm, you can begin to identify and challenge negative thought patterns, ultimately leading to a more positive and constructive mindset,” said Mohiyeddini.

By working on resiliency, Mohiyeddini said that health care providers will be better equipped to handle the things that lead to burnout or moral injury.

“Burnout is not an accident, and you are the only one in charge of your mental health,” he said. “Build your resiliency.”

For more information, contact Andrew Dietderich, senior marketing specialist, OUWB, at [email protected].

To request an interview, visit the OUWB Communications & Marketing webpage.

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