Job structure and burnout among primary care pediatricians

Burnout is an occupational disease that impairs both quality of health care and physicians' health. It is associated with emotional distress, absenteeism, reduction in personal effectiveness, and increased risk for health problems. Burnout has rarely been investigated among pediatricians.

We investigated the association between work structure and burnout among primary care pediatricians. Work structure was conceptualized as the discrepancy between perceived workload and satisfaction from specific professional activities.

126 Israeli pediatricians at child healthcare community clinics (63% response rate) responded anonymously to a self-report questionnaire assessing workload, satisfaction and burnout.

Burnout was associated significantly with workload/satisfaction discrepancy. The highest discrepancy involved administrative duties and the lowest was found for regular office visits, consultations concerning child development and inoculations, and continuing medical education.

Burnout was associated with infrequent performance of satisfying activities (e.g. research, tutoring medical students); and frequent engagement in disliked duties (e.g. administrative work). Burnout may be reduced by modifying work structure to include more involvement in professional interactions with other professionals, more varied and challenging activities such as teaching medical students, participating in research and community health promotion.