Citation

Tawfik DS, Profit J. Semin. Perinatol. 2020; 44(4): e151243.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.semperi.2020.151243

PMID

32248955

PMCID

PMC7276284

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To describe the syndrome of physician burnout within neonatology, its relation to neonatal quality of care, and outline potential solutions.
FINDINGS: Burnout affects up to half of physicians, including up to one-third of neonatologists, at any given time. It is linked to suicidality, substance abuse, and intent to leave practice, and it is strongly associated with reduced quality of care in the published literature. Resilience and mindfulness interventions rooted in positive psychology may reduce burnout among individual providers. Because burnout is largely driven by organizational factors, system-level attention to leadership, teamwork, and practice efficiency can reduce burnout at the level of the organization.
CONCLUSIONS: Burnout is common among neonatologists and consistently relates to decreased quality of patient care in a variety of dimensions. Personal resilience training and system-wide organizational interventions are needed to reverse burnout and promote high-quality neonatal care.

Language: en

Keywords

Humans; Substance-Related Disorders; Quality of Health Care; Suicidal Ideation; Mindfulness; Burnout, Professional; Medical Errors; Leadership; Resilience, Psychological; Patient Safety; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; Interprofessional Relations; Neonatology; Psychology, Positive; Work-Life Balance