Association Between Physician Burnout and Self-reported Errors: Meta-analysis.

Area of Science:

• Medical research
• Occupational health
• Healthcare quality and safety

Background:

• Physician burnout is a growing concern impacting patient care and safety.
• Understanding the link between burnout and medical errors is crucial for improving healthcare outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the association between physician burnout and self-reported medical errors.
• To analyze the impact of burnout subscales on medical error rates.

Main Methods:

• Systematic meta-analysis adhering to PRISMA guidelines.
• Searched multiple databases (MEDLINE, PubMed, Web of Science, PsycInfo, Eric) for relevant studies.
• Extracted data from 13 studies involving 20,643 physicians and residents.

Main Results:

• Overall physician burnout was significantly associated with an increased risk of self-reported errors (OR = 2.72).
• Burnout subscales, including emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, were independent predictors of errors.
• High heterogeneity was observed across studies (I2 = 67%).

Conclusions:

• Physician burnout and its components are strongly linked to increased self-reported medical errors.
• This association poses a significant risk for adverse events and warrants attention from healthcare organizations.
• Addressing physician burnout is essential for enhancing patient safety and care quality.