Burnout and its Association with Musculoskeletal Pain among Primary Care Providers

摘要

Burnout is a growing concern among primary care providers (PCPs). The condition may lead to diminished quality of patient care as well as reduced quality of life. Although self-reported musculoskeletal pain is common among healthcare providers, the relationship between burnout and musculoskeletal pain among PCPs has been studied very little. We describe a cross-sectional pilot survey conducted among 38 PCPs (MDs, DOs, PAs, and NPs) in the Midwestern United States. Self-reported feelings of burnout and musculoskeletal pain in different body regions were analyzed using regression models. Results suggested that increasing number of hours worked per day, severity of pain in the neck / shoulder area, and severity of pain in the right wrist were associated with an increased risk of burnout. On the contrary, burnout decreased with increasing age. The findings suggest that additional research is needed to understand the risk factors for burnout among PCPs, particularly during the early stages of their career.