Differences in physician task load are associated with gender variance in physician well-being metrics

Physician burnout is related to patient safety and quality of care. Female physicians face unique challenges which may contribute to higher physician task load (PTL). We investigated the association of gender and PTL, and if gender differences in PTL contribute to burnout, professional fulfilment and intent to leave in medicine.

A retrospective observational study using secondary data was conducted in June 2019-June 2021. Physicians at eight large US academic-affiliated medical centres completed a survey assessing PTL using four NASA-TLX items, burnout and professional fulfilment using the Professional Fulfilment Index (PFI), and intent to leave using a standardised single-item measure; demographic items were included. Descriptive statistics characterised the participant sample. χ² tests examined differences across participant characteristics and PTL, PFI and ITL by gender. Logistic regressions assessed associations between PTL and well-being variables. Analysis of indirect association explored the association of PTL and the relationship between gender and well-being variables.

Females had higher mean PTL as compared with males (6.67 (1.82) vs 6.45 (1.96), p<0.001). Higher levels of PTL were associated with lower PFI by PTL quintile (p<0.001), higher burnout by PTL quintile (p<0.001) and greater ITL in the highest PTL quintile (p<0.001). Despite higher burnout and PTL, females had lower odds of ITL than males. Analyses of indirect associations suggested PTL may partially account for the relationship between gender and PFI and burnout, with an opposite-direction (suppression) effect for ITL.

Higher mean PTL scores were observed in females compared with males. Findings suggest that both gender-specific and gender-agnostic interventions for addressing cognitive burden may be relevant for supporting well-being for all physicians.