Job structure and burnout among primary care pediatricians

Talma Kushnir*, Avner Herman Cohen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

36 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background. Burnout is an occupational disease that impairs both quality of health care and physicians' health. It is associated with emotional distress, absenteeism, reduction in personal effectiveness, and increased risk for health problems. Burnout has rarely been investigated among pediatricians. Objectives. We investigated the association between work structure and burnout among primary care pediatricians. Work structure was conceptualized as the discrepancy between perceived workload and satisfaction from specific professional activities. Methods. 126 Israel i pediatricians at child healthcare community clinics (63% response rate) responded anonymously to a self-report questionnaire assessing workload, satisfaction and burnout. Results. Bu rnout was associated significantly with workload/ satisfaction discrepancy. The highest discrepancy involved administrative duties and the lowest was found for regular office visits, consultations concerning child development and inoculations, and continuing medical education. Conclusions. Burnout was associated with infrequent performance of satisfying activities (e.g. research, tutoring medical students); and frequent engagement in disliked duties (e.g. administrative work). Burnout may be reduced by modifying work structure to include more involvement in professional interactions with other professionals, more varied and challenging activities such as teaching medical students, participating in research and community health promotion.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)67-74
Number of pages8
JournalWork
Volume27
Issue number1
StatePublished - 2006

Keywords

  • Burnout
  • Job structure
  • Pediatricians
  • Satisfaction
  • Stress

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Job structure and burnout among primary care pediatricians'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this