The Burnout Dyad: A Collaborative Approach for Including Patients in a Model of Provider Burnout

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Quality
• Patient Experience
• Provider Well-being

Background:

• Burnout affects over half of US clinical providers, leading to exhaustion and depersonalization.
• Patient burnout's prevalence and impact on clinical outcomes are less understood, yet crucial for care.
• Existing models like the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) Wellness and Resilience Model lack patient inclusion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To expand the NAM model by incorporating the patient perspective on burnout.
• To define patient burnout and its influence on the care experience.
• To develop a conceptual model reflecting a co-created patient-provider care experience.

Main Methods:

• A collaborative workgroup at Stanford University MedicineX (2019) included diverse stakeholders: patients, physicians, students, caregivers, technologists, and researchers.
• Three focus groups were convened using a convenience sample of conference attendees.
• The 'Everyone Included' model guided the design, promoting a non-hierarchical exchange of knowledge.

Main Results:

• An expanded definition of burnout incorporating patient experiences was developed.
• The NAM burnout model was analyzed for patient experience inclusion.
• A new inclusive conceptual model, 'The Burnout Dyad,' was created, describing a co-created care experience.

Conclusions:

• Recognizing patient burnout is essential for improving treatment barrier identification and patient-provider communication.
• The Burnout Dyad model highlights the shared nature of the care experience, influenced by both patient and provider factors.
• Inclusive, collaborative approaches are vital for developing comprehensive models of healthcare experiences.