Physician and Advanced Practice Clinician Burnout in Rural and Urban Settings

Area of Science:

• Medical Research
• Healthcare Management
• Rural Health

Background:

• Recruiting and retaining clinicians in rural areas is a significant healthcare challenge.
• Understanding clinician burnout is crucial for improving healthcare delivery in diverse settings.
• This study examines burnout among physicians and advanced practice clinicians (APCs) in rural and urban practice environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore burnout prevalence and contributing work conditions among rural, urban, and family practice physicians and APCs.
• To identify factors associated with burnout in different clinical settings.
• To inform strategies for improving clinician well-being and retention, particularly in rural areas.

Main Methods:

• An anonymous electronic survey using the Mini Z burnout reduction measure was administered in March 2022.
• Bivariate analyses were conducted, followed by multivariate binary logistic regression to assess relationships between study variables and burnout.
• The study included 1085 physicians and APCs (63% response rate) from an Upper Midwestern healthcare system.

Main Results:

• Overall burnout was reported by 46% of clinicians, with comparable rates between rural (45%) and urban (47%) practitioners.
• Part-time work was associated with reduced burnout for family practice and rural clinicians.
• For rural clinicians, increased burnout odds were linked to stress (OR: 8.53), lack of workload control (OR: 3.06), and busy/chaotic environments (OR: 2.53). Stress was also a significant factor for family practice clinicians (OR: 13.43).

Conclusions:

• Burnout levels are similar between rural and urban physicians and APCs.
• Part-time employment may mitigate burnout among rural and family practice clinicians.
• Targeting stress, workload control, and environmental chaos can enhance rural work environments, reduce turnover, and support clinician recruitment efforts.