Burnout, well‑being, and self‑reported medical errors among physicians.

Abstract

In recent years, healthcare systems around the world have been subject to profound changes driven by advances in technology, new regulations as well as demographic and societal trends. This volatile and stressful environment has had its consequences for healthcare organizations and their employees. The resulting phenomena of burnout or lowered well‑being may affect key aspects of healthcare delivery on individual, organizational, and financial levels. The objective of this paper was to investigate the level of burnout and well‑being in a group of Polish physicians, its impact on errors, and associations with other factors. This was a cross‑sectional survey using a self‑administered questionnaire with 65 questions and validated tools such as the Maslach Burnout Inventory and the World Health Organization-5 Well‑being Index (WHO‑5). Correlations between variables were investigated using Spearman rank correlation analysis. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate predictors of burnout and errors. The study included residents and physicians of various specialties. A total of 125 residents and physicians, mostly internists and cardiologists, participated in the study, out of which 84 (67%) were found to be burned out. The median WHO‑5 score was 40 points. Two‑thirds of all physicians admitted to making an error in the last 3 months, which was strongly associated with burnout. The level of burnout among respondents was high and had numerous negative consequences that may affect the entire healthcare system. The results suggest there is an urgent need to address the problem of burnout among physicians.