National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
Latest available findings on quality of and access to health care
Data
- Data Infographics
- Data Visualizations
- Data Tools
- Data Innovations
- All-Payer Claims Database
- Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP)
- Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)
- AHRQ Quality Indicator Tools for Data Analytics
- State Snapshots
- United States Health Information Knowledgebase (USHIK)
- Data Sources Available from AHRQ
Search All Research Studies
Topics
- (-) Burnout (17)
- Communication (1)
- Electronic Health Records (EHRs) (4)
- Health Information Technology (HIT) (4)
- Organizational Change (2)
- Patient-Centered Healthcare (1)
- (-) Primary Care (17)
- Primary Care: Models of Care (1)
- Provider (8)
- Provider: Clinician (7)
- Provider: Health Personnel (1)
- Provider: Nurse (5)
- Provider: Physician (7)
- Quality Improvement (1)
- Quality of Care (2)
- Stress (4)
- Teams (2)
- Workflow (3)
- Workforce (2)
AHRQ Research Studies
Sign up: AHRQ Research Studies Email updates
Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
Results
1 to 17 of 17 Research Studies DisplayedCasalino LP, Jung HY, Bodenheimer T
The association of teamlets and teams with physician burnout and patient outcomes.
This cross-sectional observational study’s goal was to determine the prevalence and performance of primary care teamlets and teams. Survey participants included 688 general internists and family physicians. Physicians were assigned to one of four teamlet/team categories (e.g., teamlet/no team) and, in secondary analyses, to one of eight teamlet/team categories that classified teamlets into high, medium, and low collaboration as perceived by the physician (e.g., teamlet perceived-high collaboration/no team) based on their responses. The majority of physicians (77.4%) practiced in teamlets; 36.7% in teams. The four categories were divided as follows: 49.1% practiced in the teamlet/no team category; 28.3% in the teamlet/team category; 8.4% in no teamlet/team; 14.1% in no teamlet/no team. Results showed that 15.7%, 47.4%, and 14.4% of physicians practiced in perceived high-, medium-, and low-collaboration teamlets. Physicians who did not practice in a teamlet or team had significantly lower rate of burnout compared to the three teamlet/team categories. There were no significant differences in outcomes or Medicare spending by teamlet/team or teamlet perceived-collaboration/team categories compared to no teamlet/no team, for Medicare beneficiaries in general, or for dual-eligible beneficiaries.
AHRQ-funded; HS025716.
Citation: Casalino LP, Jung HY, Bodenheimer T .
The association of teamlets and teams with physician burnout and patient outcomes.
J Gen Intern Med 2023 May; 38(6):1384-92. doi: 10.1007/s11606-022-07894-7..
Keywords: Teams, Burnout, Primary Care, Provider: Physician
Abraham CM, Zheng K, Norful AA
Use of multifunctional electronic health records and burnout among primary care nurse practitioners.
This study investigated whether there is an association with the use of multifunctional electronic health records (EHRs) with nurse practitioner (NP) burnout in primary care practices. The study used cross-sectional survey data secondary analysis collected from NPs in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The NPs completed surveys measuring burnout, use of multifunctional EHRs, demographics, and characteristics of their practice. Of 396 NPs included, 25.3% reported burnout, but the use of multifunctional EHRs did not increase primary care NP burnout.
AHRQ-funded; HS027290.
Citation: Abraham CM, Zheng K, Norful AA .
Use of multifunctional electronic health records and burnout among primary care nurse practitioners.
J Am Assoc Nurse Pract 2021 Dec;33(12):1182-89. doi: 10.1097/jxx.0000000000000533..
Keywords: Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Burnout, Provider: Nurse, Primary Care
Abraham CM, Zheng K, Norful AA
Primary care nurse practitioner burnout and perceptions of quality of care.
Researchers investigated the relationship between primary care nurse practitioner (NP) burnout on perceptions of care quality and if the practice environment moderated the relationship between burnout and care quality. This was a secondary analysis of cross-sectional survey data from 396 NPs; the practice environment was measured using the Nurse Practitioner Primary Care Organizational Climate Questionnaire. The researchers found that burnout was related to lower perceptions of care quality but favorable environments were related to higher perceptions of quality.
AHRQ-funded; HS027290.
Citation: Abraham CM, Zheng K, Norful AA .
Primary care nurse practitioner burnout and perceptions of quality of care.
Nurs Forum 2021 Jul;56(3):550-59. doi: 10.1111/nuf.12579..
Keywords: Burnout, Provider: Nurse, Primary Care, Quality of Care
Edwards ST, Marino M, Solberg LI
Cultural and structural features of zero-burnout primary care practices.
There have been a lot of studies on individual-level drivers of burnout in primary care settings, but none have focused on zero-burnout practices. This cross-sectional analysis survey used data from 715 small-to-medium-size primary care practices in the US participating in AHRQ’s EvidenceNOW initiative. The authors found that zero-burnout practices had higher levels of psychological safety and adaptive reserve. Zero-burnout practices also reported more quality improvement strategies compared with high-burnout practices. More zero-burnout practices were solo or clinician owned, and less commonly had participated in accountable care organizations or other demonstration projects.
AHRQ-funded; HS023940.
Citation: Edwards ST, Marino M, Solberg LI .
Cultural and structural features of zero-burnout primary care practices.
Health Aff 2021 Jun;40(6):928-36. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2020.02391..
Keywords: Burnout, Primary Care
Goldberg DG, Soylu TG, Kitsantas P
Burnout among primary care providers and staff: evaluating the association with practice adaptive reserve and individual behaviors.
The purpose of this study was to examine the association between practice adaptive reserve (PAR) and individual behavioral response to change and burnout among healthcare professionals in primary care. Using data from the EvidenceNOW Heart of Virginia Healthcare initiative, the study’s findings showed that, as organizational capacity for change increased, burnout in healthcare professionals decreased by 51%. As healthcare professionals showed improved response toward change, burnout decreased by 84%. Increased hours of work per week was associated with higher odds of burnout across healthcare professional groups.
AHRQ-funded; HS023913.
Citation: Goldberg DG, Soylu TG, Kitsantas P .
Burnout among primary care providers and staff: evaluating the association with practice adaptive reserve and individual behaviors.
J Gen Intern Med 2021 May;36(5):1222-28. doi: 10.1007/s11606-020-06367-z..
Keywords: Burnout, Primary Care, Provider: Nurse, Provider: Clinician, Provider: Physician, Provider
Abraham CM, Zheng Norful, AA
Primary care practice environment and burnout among nurse practitioners.
This study looked at the primary care practice environment and how poor practice environments contribute to burnout of nurse practitioners (NPs). A survey of 396 NPs was conducted, and 25.3% were rated as burnt-out. Higher scores on professional visibility, NP-physician relations, NP-administration relations, independent practice and support subscales were associated with lower risk of NP burnout.
AHRQ-funded; HS027290.
Citation: Abraham CM, Zheng Norful, AA .
Primary care practice environment and burnout among nurse practitioners.
J Nurse Pract 2021 Feb;17(2):157-62. doi: 10.1016/j.nurpra.2020.11.009..
Keywords: Primary Care, Burnout, Provider: Nurse, Provider
Poghosyan L, Ghaffari A, Liu J
Organizational support for nurse practitioners in primary care and workforce outcomes.
Lack of organizational support in healthcare settings has been linked to high levels of clinician stress, burnout, and job dissatisfaction. Little research exists on organizational support for nurse practitioners. In this study, the researchers investigated the relationship between organizational support and nurse practitioner outcomes, including job satisfaction, intent to leave, and quality of care. The investigators concluded that nurse practitioners from primary care practices with higher levels of organizational support were more likely to be satisfied with their jobs, have less intent to leave their jobs, and report better quality of care.
AHRQ-funded; HS024758.
Citation: Poghosyan L, Ghaffari A, Liu J .
Organizational support for nurse practitioners in primary care and workforce outcomes.
Nurs Res 2020 Jul/Aug;69(4):280-88. doi: 10.1097/nnr.0000000000000425..
Keywords: Provider: Clinician, Provider, Primary Care, Burnout, Stress, Workforce, Organizational Change
Goldberg DG, Soylu TG, Grady VM
Indicators of workplace burnout among physicians, advanced practice clinicians, and staff in small to medium-sized primary care practices.
The goal of this study was to examine whether individual behaviors and attitudes towards major disruptive change has an effect on workplace burnout. Using surveys from healthcare professionals, researchers’ findings showed workplace burnout reported by 31.6% of physicians, 17.2% of advanced practice clinicians, 18.9% of clinical support staff, and 17.5% of administrative staff, with all healthcare professional groups having high levels of anxiety. Providers who experienced higher levels of anxiety and withdrawal were more than three times as likely to report burnout compared to those who experienced low levels in these domains.
AHRQ-funded; HS023913.
Citation: Goldberg DG, Soylu TG, Grady VM .
Indicators of workplace burnout among physicians, advanced practice clinicians, and staff in small to medium-sized primary care practices.
J Am Board Fam Med 2020 May-Jun;33(3):378-85. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2020.03.190260..
Keywords: Burnout, Primary Care, Provider, Workflow, Workforce
Adler-Milstein J, Zhao W, Willard-Grace R
Electronic health records and burnout: time spent on the electronic health record after hours and message volume associated with exhaustion but not with cynicism among primary care clinicians
This study examined whether objective measures of electronic health record (EHR) use-related to time, volume of work, and proficiency are associated with either exhaustion or cynicism. The authors combined Maslach Burnout Inventory survey measures with objective, vendor-defined EHR use measures from log files. Data was collected from all primary care clinics of a large, urban medical academic center in early 2018. One-third of clinicians had high cynicism and 51% had high emotional exhaustion. The clinicians with the most exhaustion spent time using the EHR after hours.
AHRQ-funded; HS022241.
Citation: Adler-Milstein J, Zhao W, Willard-Grace R .
Electronic health records and burnout: time spent on the electronic health record after hours and message volume associated with exhaustion but not with cynicism among primary care clinicians
J Am Med Inform Assoc 2020 Apr;27(4):531-38. doi: 10.1093/jamia/ocz220..
Keywords: Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Burnout, Provider: Clinician, Provider: Physician, Provider, Primary Care
Kroth PJ, Morioka-Douglas N, Veres S
Association of electronic health record design and use factors with clinician stress and burnout.
The authors sought to determine which electronic health record (EHR) design and use factors are associated with clinician stress and burnout and to identify other sources that contribute to this problem. Surveying ambulatory primary care and subspecialty clinicians from 3 institutions, they found that, although EHR design and use factors are associated with clinician stress and burnout, other challenges, such as chaotic clinic atmospheres and workload control, explain considerably more of the variance in these adverse clinician outcomes.
AHRQ-funded; HS022065.
Citation: Kroth PJ, Morioka-Douglas N, Veres S .
Association of electronic health record design and use factors with clinician stress and burnout.
JAMA Netw Open 2019 Aug 2;2(8):e199609. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.9609..
Keywords: Burnout, Stress, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Primary Care, Provider: Clinician, Provider: Physician, Provider: Nurse
Nocon RS, Fairchild PC, Gao Y
Provider and staff morale, job satisfaction, and burnout over a 4-year medical home intervention.
This study examined the impact of adopting the patient-centered medical home (PCMH) on clinicians and staff at primary care practices. A longitudinal study was done comparing baseline (201) and post-intervention (2013-2014) survey results. Five-hundred thirty-six providers and staff at baseline and 589 were surveyed post-intervention. Almost half of all clinics reported improved better job morale, job satisfaction, and freedom from burnout. However, there were some clinics that saw a decrease in the percentage of providers reporting high job satisfaction and freedom from burnout. Control clinics were not used in this study, so it is impossible to know if results were similar in non-PCMH primary care practices.
AHRQ-funded; HS000084.
Citation: Nocon RS, Fairchild PC, Gao Y .
Provider and staff morale, job satisfaction, and burnout over a 4-year medical home intervention.
J Gen Intern Med 2019 Jun;34(6):952-59. doi: 10.1007/s11606-019-04893-z..
Keywords: Burnout, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Primary Care, Primary Care: Models of Care, Provider, Provider: Clinician, Stress
Edwards ST, Marino M, Balasubramanian BA
Burnout among physicians, advanced practice clinicians and staff in smaller primary care practices.
The purpose of this study was to examine the association between physician-, advanced practice clinician- and staff-reported burnout and specific structural, organizational, and contextual characteristics of smaller primary care practices. Results showed that burnout is prevalent among physicians, advanced practice clinicians, and staff in smaller primary care practices. Members of solo practices less commonly report burnout, while members of health system-owned practices and Federally Qualified Health Centers more commonly report burnout, suggesting that practice level autonomy may be a critical determinant.
AHRQ-funded; HS023940.
Citation: Edwards ST, Marino M, Balasubramanian BA .
Burnout among physicians, advanced practice clinicians and staff in smaller primary care practices.
J Gen Intern Med 2018 Dec;33(12):2138-46. doi: 10.1007/s11606-018-4679-0..
Keywords: Burnout, Primary Care, Provider: Physician, Provider: Clinician, Provider
Blechter B, Jiang N, Cleland C
Correlates of burnout in small independent primary care practices in an urban setting.
Little is known about the prevalence and correlates of burnout among providers who work in small independent primary care practices (< 5 providers). The authors conducted a cross-sectional analysis by using data collected from 235 providers practicing in 174 small independent primary care practices in New York City. The burnout rate was relatively low among their sample of providers compared with previous surveys that focused primarily on larger practices.
AHRQ-funded; HS023922.
Citation: Blechter B, Jiang N, Cleland C .
Correlates of burnout in small independent primary care practices in an urban setting.
J Am Board Fam Med 2018 Jul-Aug;31(4):529-36. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2018.04.170360..
Keywords: Burnout, Provider: Health Personnel, Primary Care
Hung DY, Harrison MI , Truong Q
AHRQ Author: Harrison MI
Experiences of primary care physicians and staff following lean workflow redesign.
The researchers examined the work experiences of primary care physicians and staff after implementing Lean-based workflow redesigns. They found that both physicians and nonphysician staff reported higher levels of engagement and teamwork after implementing redesigns. However, the subjects also experienced higher levels of burnout and perceptions of the workplace as stressful.
AHRQ-authored; AHRQ-funded; 290201000022I.
Citation: Hung DY, Harrison MI , Truong Q .
Experiences of primary care physicians and staff following lean workflow redesign.
BMC Health Serv Res 2018 Apr 10;18(1):274. doi: 10.1186/s12913-018-3062-5.
.
.
Keywords: Primary Care, Workflow, Burnout, Organizational Change, Provider: Physician, Teams
Cuellar A, Krist AH, Nichols LM
Effect of practice ownership on work environment, learning culture, psychological safety, and burnout.
The researchers examined whether there are differences across practice ownership in self-reported work environment, a practice culture of learning, psychological safety, and burnout. They concluded that hospital ownership was associated with positive perceptions of practice work environment and lower burnout for staff relative to independent ownership, whereas clinicians in federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) perceive a more negative, less joyful work environment and burnout.
AHRQ-funded; HS023913.
Citation: Cuellar A, Krist AH, Nichols LM .
Effect of practice ownership on work environment, learning culture, psychological safety, and burnout.
Ann Fam Med 2018 Apr;16(Suppl 1):S44-s51. doi: 10.1370/afm.2198.
.
.
Keywords: Primary Care, Burnout, Provider
Linzer M, Poplau S, Grossman E
A cluster randomized trial of interventions to improve work conditions and clinician burnout in primary care: results from the Healthy Work Place (HWP) Study.
This study aimed to assess if improvements in work conditions reduce clinician stress and burnout. It found that burnout was more likely to improve with workflow interventions and with targeted QI projects than in controls. Also, interventions in communication or workflow led to greater improvements in clinician satisfaction.
AHRQ-funded; HS018160.
Citation: Linzer M, Poplau S, Grossman E .
A cluster randomized trial of interventions to improve work conditions and clinician burnout in primary care: results from the Healthy Work Place (HWP) Study.
J Gen Intern Med 2015 Aug;30(8):1105-11. doi: 10.1007/s11606-015-3235-4..
Keywords: Burnout, Stress, Primary Care, Workflow, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Communication
Babbott S, Manwell LB, Brown R
Electronic medical records and physician stress in primary care: results from the MEMO Study.
In this paper, the investigators assessed relationships between the number of EMR functions, primary care work conditions, and physician satisfaction, stress and burnout. The authors concluded that stress may rise for physicians with a moderate number of EMR functions; they found that time pressure was associated with poor physician outcomes mainly in the high EMR cluster.
AHRQ-funded; HS011955.
Citation: Babbott S, Manwell LB, Brown R .
Electronic medical records and physician stress in primary care: results from the MEMO Study.
J Am Med Inform Assoc 2014 Feb;21(e1):e100-6. doi: 10.1136/amiajnl-2013-001875..
Keywords: Burnout, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Primary Care, Provider: Clinician, Provider: Physician