Article Impact Level: HIGH Data Quality: STRONG Summary of Annals of Internal Medicine, ANNALS-24-02896. https://doi.org/10.7326/ANNALS-24-02896 Dr. Nathan Houchens et al.
Points
- A nationwide study of 629 internal medicine physicians found that approximately 10 percent reported high levels of burnout, including emotional exhaustion and a diminished sense of professional accomplishment.
- Burnout levels were similar regardless of practice setting, with no significant differences between those working in academic hospitals, community centers, or Veterans Affairs facilities.
- The study also showed comparable burnout rates between physicians in primary care and those working in hospital settings, indicating the issue is widespread across internal medicine roles.
- Regional disparities emerged, with 15 percent of physicians in the Western United States reporting burnout compared to lower rates in other regions, suggesting localized systemic pressures.
- The findings emphasize the urgency of developing targeted strategies to mitigate burnout, especially amid growing concerns about the future availability of primary care physicians.
Summary
A recent study published in Annals of Internal Medicine examined burnout levels among U.S. internal medicine physicians, focusing on various practice settings and regions. Burnout, characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and low personal accomplishment, is a significant issue in healthcare. The study surveyed 629 internal medicine physicians, split between those providing primary care and those working in hospitals. The researchers found that approximately 10% of physicians reported high burnout, with emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and feelings of ineffectiveness affecting their professional satisfaction and performance.
The study revealed that burnout risk did not significantly vary by practice context, with similar burnout levels observed among doctors working in community medical centers, Veterans Affairs facilities, and academic hospitals. Additionally, there were no notable differences in burnout prevalence between physicians providing primary care versus those working in hospital settings or inpatient and outpatient care providers. This suggests that burnout is a pervasive issue across different roles and settings within internal medicine.
However, regional differences in burnout prevalence were observed, with physicians in the West facing a notably higher risk. Approximately 15% of doctors in the Western U.S. reported burnout, compared to 9% in the Northeast and Midwest, and 7% in the South. This geographic disparity points to potential systemic factors influencing burnout levels. The study underscores the need for targeted interventions to address burnout, particularly in light of the projected shortage of primary care physicians in the coming years.
Link to the article: https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/ANNALS-24-02896
References Houchens, N., Greene, M. T., Sen, S., Harry, E., Ratz, D., Fowler, K. E., & Saint, S. (2025). Burnout prevalence among u. S. Internal medicine physicians: A cross-sectional study. Annals of Internal Medicine, ANNALS-24-02896. https://doi.org/10.7326/ANNALS-24-02896
