The burden of the digital environment: a systematic review on organization-directed workplace interventions to mitigate physician burnout

Abstract

Objective To conduct a systematic review identifying workplace interventions that mitigate physician burnout related to the digital environment including health information technologies (eg, electronic health records) and decision support systems) with or without the application of advanced analytics for clinical care. Materials and Methods Literature published from January 1, 2007 to June 3, 2020 was systematically reviewed from multiple databases and hand searches. Subgroup analysis identified relevant physician burnout studies with interventions examining digital tool burden, related workflow inefficiencies, and measures of burnout, stress, or job satisfaction in all practice settings. Results The search strategy identified 4806 citations of which 81 met inclusion criteria. Thirty-eight studies reported interventions to decrease digital tool burden. Sixty-eight percent of these studies reported improvement in burnout and/or its proxy measures. Burnout was decreased by interventions that optimized technologies (primarily electronic health records), provided training, reduced documentation and task time, expanded the care team, and leveraged quality improvement processes in workflows. Discussion The contribution of digital tools to physician burnout can be mitigated by careful examination of usability, introducing technologies to save or optimize time, and applying quality improvement to workflows. Conclusion Physician burnout is not reduced by technology implementation but can be mitigated by technology and workflow optimization, training, team expansion, and careful consideration of factors affecting burnout, including specialty, practice setting, regulatory pressures, and how physicians spend their time.

Burnout in Surgical Trainees: a Narrative Review of Trends, Contributors, Consequences and Possible Interventions

“…Furthermore, it is possible to draw on the wider literature when identifying potentially useful burnout interventions. For example, there has been a growing awareness of the contribution of technology advancements and associated technology-related frustrations to increasing healthcare professional burnout [ 94 ]. However, a recent systematic review of 81 studies in physicians found that interventions which optimise technologies, such as by providing training, reducing the time spent on electronic documentation or improving workflow processes were associated with burnout reductions [ 94 ].…”

“…For example, there has been a growing awareness of the contribution of technology advancements and associated technology-related frustrations to increasing healthcare professional burnout [ 94 ]. However, a recent systematic review of 81 studies in physicians found that interventions which optimise technologies, such as by providing training, reducing the time spent on electronic documentation or improving workflow processes were associated with burnout reductions [ 94 ]. These interventions can be simple to identify, design and deliver, and could become increasingly beneficial in a time where medical and surgical interventions are becoming more and more digitised.…”

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“…Our study is relevant to the current global effects of the pandemic on HCPs and their daily use of technology in providing patient care within the Saudi context. Results from our study add to a growing body of evidence calling for a focus on measuring the effects of technology used by HCPs and its impact on stress and burnout [18,22,34,35].…”

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