Efficacy of Interventions to Reduce Resident Physician Burnout: A Systematic Review

J Grad Med Educ. 2017 Jun;9(3):294-301. doi: 10.4300/JGME-D-16-00372.1.

Abstract

Background: Studies report high burnout prevalence among resident physicians, with little consensus on methods to effectively reduce it.

Objective: This systematic literature review explores the efficacy of interventions in reducing resident burnout.

Methods: PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were searched using these key words: burnout and resident, intern, or residency. We excluded review articles, editorials, letters, and non-English-language articles. We abstracted data on study characteristics, population, interventions, and outcomes. When appropriate, data were pooled using random effects meta-analysis to account for between-study heterogeneity. Study quality was assessed using Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (cohort studies) and Jadad scale (randomized control trials [RCTs]).

Results: Of 1294 retrieved articles, 19 (6 RCTs, 13 cohort studies) enrolling 2030 residents and examining 12 interventions met criteria, with 9 studying the 2003 and 2011 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) duty hour restrictions. Work hour reductions were associated with score decrease (mean difference, -2.73; 95% confidence interval (CI) -4.12 to -1.34; P < .001) and lower odds ratio (OR) for residents reporting emotional exhaustion (42%; OR = 0.58; 95% CI 0.43-0.77; P < .001); a small, significant decrease in depersonalization score (-1.73; 95% CI -3.00 to -0.46; P = .008); and no effect on mean personal accomplishment score (0.93; 95% CI -0.19-2.06; P = .10) or for residents with high levels of personal accomplishment (OR = 1.01; 95% CI 0.67-1.54; P = .95). Among interventions, self-care workshops showed decreases in depersonalization scores, and a meditation intervention reduced emotional exhaustion.

Conclusions: The ACGME work hour limits were associated with improvement in emotional exhaustion and burnout.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Review
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Accreditation
  • Burnout, Professional / prevention & control*
  • Education, Medical, Graduate
  • Humans
  • Internship and Residency*
  • Physicians / psychology*