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The Impact of Organizational Leadership on Physician Burnout and Satisfaction

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University of Ottawa

Status

Completed

Conditions

Burnout, Professional
Satisfaction
Leadership

Treatments

Other: Survey

Study type

Observational

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT04896307
20200431-01H

Details and patient eligibility

About

Physician burnout is a global issue characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and low levels of personal accomplishment. Recent evidence suggests that organization-directed interventions were more likely to lead to reductions in burnout when compared to physician-directed interventions. More specifically, the leadership behaviors of the direct physician supervisor play a critical role in the well-being of physicians they supervise.

As such, the aims of this project are: 1) To improve our understanding of the prevalence of burnout and professional satisfaction of physicians working at the Ottawa Hospital (TOH), and 2) To evaluate the relationship between the leadership qualities of direct physician supervisors (i.e. Division and Department Heads) and the well-being and burnout of their physicians. Specifically, a cross-sectional survey will be completed by physicians at TOH to assess their levels of burnout and satisfaction and the leadership qualities of their direct physician supervisors.

Full description

Physician burnout is a global issue characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and low levels of personal accomplishment. Burnout symptoms as high as 50% have been documented worldwide. According to the 2018 National Physician Health Survey, 30% of Canadian Physicians and Residents are experiencing burnout, with 26% high emotional exhaustion and 15% high depersonalization. Physician burnout is associated with low job satisfaction, decreased quality of patient care, reduced productivity, high job turnover, and early retirement from clinical practice. However, evidence suggests burnout is reversible and even preventable.

Recent evidence suggests that organization-directed interventions were more likely to lead to reductions in burnout when compared to physician-directed interventions. More specifically, the leadership behaviors of the direct physician supervisor play a critical role in the well-being of physicians they supervise. To date, we are unaware of any study that has examined the relationship between organizational leadership and degree of burnout and professional satisfaction in a Canadian tertiary care centre. Understanding physician burnout and professional satisfaction has strategic importance to the health of the physician, the patient, and the organization.

A recent study of 2813 physicians at the Mayo clinic found that each 1-point increase in supervisor's leadership score was associated with a 3.3% decrease in the likelihood of burnout and 9% increase in satisfaction of physicians. Furthermore, 11% and 47% of the variation of burnout and satisfaction, respectively, was attributed to the leadership rating of the physician's supervisor. The findings from this study further highlight the importance of prioritizing leadership as a key performance indicator, but it is necessary to first determine whether the Mayo Clinic's findings can be translated to a Canadian tertiary care centre.

As such, the aims of this project are: 1) To improve our understanding of the prevalence of burnout and professional satisfaction of physicians working at TOH, and 2) To evaluate the relationship between the leadership qualities of direct physician supervisors (i.e. Division and Department Heads) and the well-being and burnout of their physicians.

Our study will use Shanafelt et al's study as a guide to investigate leadership qualities at TOH. A cross-sectional online survey will be completed by physicians at TOH that will assess their levels of burnout and satisfaction and the leadership qualities of their direct physician supervisor.

Enrollment

383 patients

Sex

All

Ages

18+ years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

  • all physicians working at The Ottawa Hospital

Exclusion criteria

  • none

Trial design

383 participants in 1 patient group

Physicians at The Ottawa Hospital
Description:
Online survey completed by physicians working at The Ottawa Hospital consisting of the 2-item Maslach Burnout Inventory, a Satisfaction Questionnaire and the 12-Item Participatory Management Leadership Score.
Treatment:
Other: Survey

Trial contacts and locations

1

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Data sourced from clinicaltrials.gov

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