Selecting physician well-being measures to assess health system performance and screen for distress: Conceptual and methodological considerations

Abstract

Following national calls to address burnout among U.S. physicians, healthcare systems across the nation are integrating measures of physician well-being into institutional assessments. In this paper, we review important conceptual and methodological considerations for selecting self-reported physician well-being measures to monitor health system performance and to screen individual physicians for symptoms of distress. First, we discuss the importance of selecting any given measure of physician well-being based on the degree to which evidence supports the validity of the measure within the context of its intended use. Second, we present a conceptual model explaining the relationship between physician well-being and the larger healthcare context, to assist health systems in identifying the intended goals of physician well-being assessment. Well-being assessments are metrics of individual-level physician wellness/distress and may be indicators of system-level performance. We highlight proposed roles of physician well-being as a performance metric (i.e., as a downstream effect of the medical practice environment, as a predictor of health system outcomes, and as a mediator of the practice environment's effect on health system outcomes). Using this framework, we review the evidence supporting the validity of four of the most commonly used measures of well-being in U.S. physicians, identify gaps in the literature, and present practical recommendations for healthcare organizations' selection of appropriate measurement tools. We conclude by offering directions for future research to advance the measurement of physician well-being outcomes.