Burnout, work engagement and work hours – how physicians’ decision to work less is associated with work-related factors

Abstract

Background According to new estimates, the health care sector will suffer a shortage of physicians in primary and specialty care. In this context, work engagement and burnout are two constructs that have gained attention recently. The aim of this study was to investigate how these constructs are related to work hour preference. Method The present study was based on the baseline survey of the long-term study of physicians with different specialties, in which 1,001 physicians took part (response rate: 33.4%). Burnout was measured using the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory adapted for health care professionals; work engagement was assessed using the Utrecht Work Engagement scale. Data analyses included regression and mediation models. Results Overall, 297 out of 725 physicians were planning to cut down work hours. Several reasons - such as burnout - are discussed. According to multiple regression analyses desire to work less hours was significantly linked to all three dimensions of burnout (p < 0.001), as well as work engagement (p = 0.001). In addition, work engagement significantly mediated the relationship between the burnout dimensions on work hour reduction (patient-related: b = − 0.135, p < 0.001; work-related: b = − 0.190, p < 0.001; personal: b = − 0.133, p < 0.001 ). Discussion Physicians tending to reduce work hours exhibited different levels of work engagement as well as burnout (personal, patient- and work-related). Moreover, work engagement influenced the relationship between burnout and work hour reduction. Therefore, interventions that increase work engagement may positively impact negative effects of burnout on work hour changes.

The Role of Fulfilment and Disillusion in the Relationship between Burnout and Career Satisfaction in Italian Healthcare Workers

“…Data on the specific focus of the disillusion-fulfilment dimension showed that about 23% reported a state of complete disillusion, 67.5% a condition of risk of compromising their work motivations and ideals, and just under 10% a state of fulfilment. This result is also in line with previous studies that analyzed the importance of the fulfilment dimension in healthcare in the pandemic period (e.g., [50,51]). A new element revealed by this study is the assessment of the "dark side" of fulfilment, represented by disillusion in healthcare workers.…”

“…Concerning the COVID-19 period, Martínez-López and colleagues [50], studying healthcare workers in Spain in facilities for the elderly, highlighted the importance of fulfilment for counteracting burnout and for the sustainability of the work environment. Jung et al [51] highlighted the relationship between workload and burnout on the one hand, and work engagement and fulfilment on the other hand, in a sample of (approximately 1000) Danish healthcare workers. Lyubarova and colleagues [52], through a literature review, highlighted the gender differences present in the relationship between fulfilment and burnout, workload, and organizational task complexity.…”

“…In the context of the JD-R model [4,7], regarding the opposition between job burnout and work engagement and the ability of the latter to prevent and counteract the syndrome, it might therefore be useful to consider-in addition to the already identified job demands and job resources of a subjective nature present in healthcare settings [2,5]-the dimension of fulfilment [41,42] and its opposite, disillusion [14,39,61]. This dimension seems to have the capacity to significantly impact the vocational, existential, and value aspects of work, which are of fundamental importance for the work engagement and satisfaction of healthcare workers, especially in this post-pandemic period [50][51][52].…”

Association between Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Chronic Kidney Disease According to Sex, Long Working Hours: The Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2019–2020)

“…Kim et al [ 16 ] reported that individuals working long hours (41–52 h/week) with diabetes had 1.85 times higher odds of CKD (95% CI 1.15–2.96, p = 0.0112) compared to those who worked ≤ 40 h/week or less. As the number of working hours increases, work-related stress can also increase [ 36 ], leading to the activation of the systemic inflammatory response, which may play a role in the A development of kidney disease [ 37 ]. Another mechanism might be dietary habit change.…”

Arbeitszeit bei Ärzt:innen und Auswirkungen auf Gesundheit, Zufriedenheit und Gesundheitsversorgung

“…Wenn Ärzt:innen am Rande der Erschöpfung arbeiten oder gar von Präsentismus die Rede ist, kann jedoch keine optimale Gesundheitsversorgung garantiert werden. Gerade neuere Studien weisen darauf hin, dass es einen Zusammenhang zwischen Arbeitszeitreduktion und hoher Arbeitsbelastung gibt [ 26 ]. Wichtig ist es daher, gemeinsam nach einer Lösung zu suchen, die die Interessen aller Beteiligten berücksichtigt.…”