key: cord-0984540-vmrqe01a
authors: Mitchell, Edith Peterson
title: Clinician Wellbeing during COVID-19
date: 2021-10-24
journal: J Natl Med Assoc
DOI: 10.1016/j.jnma.2021.09.001
sha: 57a0be23ee66a73db6b788f1d8648077ee25ae13
doc_id: 984540
cord_uid: vmrqe01a

nan

Physician wellbeing is important and contributes significantly to the overall health of the individual physician. Moreover, it is important for safe high quality patient care, patient satisfaction and trust, as well as clinician productivity. Multiple reports and studies have shown that physicians across many specialties and subspecialties experience symptoms of burnout.

So what is physician burnout? The National Academy of Medicine defines "Burnout" as a syndrome characterized by a high degree of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and low sense of personal accomplishment at work, and related to the practice of medicine. High stress levels have been reported in practicing physicians as well as those in training, with higher levels of burnout reported in Black and LatinX physicians and women.

The consequences of burnout for clinicians could lead to serious consequences, including, but not limited to occupational and personal injury, problematic alcohol and/or drug use, higher risk of depression and suicide, career regret and change, and suboptimal professional development.

These factors can lead to increased absenteeism and result in an increase in staff turnover, lower morale, and productivity. Overall, this syndrome can produce a decrease in patients' access to healthcare and poorer quality of care.

While there is ongoing research evaluating the contributing factors to physician burnout and the components of wellbeing, it is so important that physicians recognize burnout in themselves and colleagues. Substantial information and help is available. With the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and additional stresses due to increased workload, changes in work patterns and income, coupled with sick and increased number of dying patients are all contributing factors in physician burnout.

The American Medical Association and the National Academy of Medicine have established extensive research on the causes and impact of burnout and provides interventional resources to promote wellbeing. Connecting with others can provide recognition of stress and burnout and serve as a source of interventional strategies to promote wellbeing. 

Preventing a parallel pandemic -a national strategy to protect clinicians' well-being

Prevalence and correlates of stress and burnout among U.S. healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A national cross-sectional survey study