Date of Award

2025

Degree Name

Healthcare Administration

College

College of Business

Type of Degree

M.S.

Document Type

Research Paper

First Advisor

Alberto Coustasse, Dr.PH. MD, MBA, MPH

Abstract

Introduction: Physician burnout has become an increasingly prevalent and critical issue in healthcare systems worldwide, particularly among emergency room physicians who face high-stress, high-demand working conditions. Burnout manifests as emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a diminished sense of personal accomplishment, leading to negative outcomes for physicians’ mental health, job satisfaction, and overall career longevity. This phenomenon not only threatens the well-being of physicians but also compromises patient care quality and contributes to costly turnover within healthcare organizations.

Purpose of the Study: The aim of this study was to systematically investigate the impact of burnout interventions on emergency room physicians. Specifically, it analyzed how participating in various burnout reduction strategies influences symptoms of burnout, job satisfaction levels, and turnover intentions among this high-risk group. The study also sought to identify key organizational and individual factors that moderate these outcomes.

Methods: A qualitative literature review was performed using six electronic databases: Academic Search Premier, Point of View Reference Center, ProQuest, PubMed, Summon, and Google Scholar. Search terms included combinations of "emergency," "room," "physician," "burnout," "turnover," and "job satisfaction." Using the PRISMA 2020 framework, thirty peer-reviewed articles were selected for detailed data abstraction and analysis. The literature was synthesized to evaluate evidence for the effectiveness of interventions such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness training, peer support programs, workload adjustments, and leadership engagement in mitigating burnout and its consequences in emergency settings.

Results: The review confirmed that burnout affects a significant portion of emergency physicians, with reported rates ranging from 22% to over 50% depending on geography and study methodology. Individual-level interventions—such as stress management training and mindfulness—significantly reduced burnout symptoms. Simultaneously, organizational changes including workload redistribution, reducing documentation burdens, fair compensation, and fostering supportive leadership and peer relationships led to improved job satisfaction and lower turnover rates. Protective factors identified included feeling appreciated by leadership, manageable workloads, strong collegial bonds, and engagement in core clinical duties. Conversely, heavy workloads, poor communication, perceived understaffing, and low income were associated with increased burnout and turnover intentions.

Subject(s)

Health services administration.

Health facilities -- Business management.

Emergency physicians -- Job stress.

Fatigue -- Medical personnel.

Burn out (Psychology) -- Medical personnel -- Prevention.

Burn out (Psychology) -- Medical personnel -- Treatment.

Job satisfaction -- Medical personnel.

Patient safety.

Mental health -- Medical personnel.

Labor turnover -- Medical personnel.

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