Burnout Among South Dakota-Licensed Physicians

Area of Science:

• Medical research
• Public health
• Physician wellness

Background:

• Physician well-being is a growing national concern.
• A survey was conducted in South Dakota to establish a baseline for physician burnout.
• Collaboration with state medical boards and associations ensured comprehensive data collection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the current prevalence of physician burnout among licensed physicians in South Dakota.
• To identify practice characteristics associated with burnout.
• To explore factors influencing physician burnout.

Main Methods:

• An anonymous, web-based survey was distributed to all licensed physicians.
• The survey included demographic questions and a validated burnout assessment tool.
• Quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed on 612 responses (10% response rate).

Main Results:

• Overall, 33.0% of physicians reported burnout.
• Physicians primarily practicing telemedicine showed a significantly lower burnout rate (17%).
• Qualitative analysis revealed themes of control, resources, relationships, and work meaning impacting burnout.

Conclusions:

• Physician burnout is prevalent in South Dakota, though lower than national averages.
• Practice characteristics, except for telemedicine, were not significantly correlated with burnout.
• Identifying and addressing factors that provoke or alleviate burnout can improve physician wellness.