BACKGROUND: Work-related burnout is a serious problem in industry as well as health care. It is important to determine characteristics of primary care providers (PCPs) who experience burnout. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey of primary care providers’ depression-related attitudes and practices in 1996. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: We surveyed 410 PCPs, from 80 outpatient clinics, in 11 managed care organizations participating in four studies designed to improve the quality of depression care in primary care. Forty-four percent of surveyed clinicians were female, 13.4% were general or family practice, and 17.7% were nonphysicians. MEASURES: We used validated and reliable measures to assess PCP demographic and attitudinal characteristics in relationship to burnout, a standard measure that is strongly associated with job loss or change. RESULTS: We analyzed PCP burnout and its demographic and attitudinal predictors. Controlling for demographic characteristics, PCP burnout is also strongly associated with having a high tolerance for uncertainty (p<0.001). In turn, having a high tolerance for uncertainty is associated with PCPs rating depression care as minimally burdensome (p<0.0001), indicating readiness to improve depression care (p<0.01), being general or family practitioners (p<0.05) or residents (p<0.0001), and being female providers (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: A high tolerance for uncertainty and the willingness to care for the "whole patient", including mental health issues, are attributes that have been considered to be essential for providers of high quality primary care. This study suggests that providers with these characteristics, however, may not be able to sustain enthusiasm for primary care practice under current practice conditions.
Learning Objectives: After reading this poster, participants will be able to: 1. Describe the relationship between burnout and demographic and attitudinal characteristics of primary care clinicians. 2. Explain the implications of provider burnout for quality of care for depression. 3. Understand relationships between the type of work required of primary care clinicians and burnout
Keywords: Primary Care, Providers
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.