Burnout, ProfessionalNCT04896307
The Impact of Organizational Leadership on Physician Burnout and Satisfaction
An observational study of Burnout, Professional and Satisfaction, run by University of Ottawa at 1 site in Canada.
Trial summary
Physician burnout is a global issue characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and low levels of personal accomplishment. Recent evidence suggests that organization-directed interventions were more likely to lead to reductions in burnout when compared to physician-directed interventions. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Burnout, Professional, Satisfaction, Leadership
- What is being tested?
- Survey
- How many people
- 383 participants
- Where
- 1 siteCanada
- Study dates
- 17 May 2021to 21 Feb 2022
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: All physicians working at The Ottawa Hospital
Who may be able to join
- all physicians working at The Ottawa Hospital
Who cannot join
- none
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: The Impact of Organizational Leadership on Physician Burnout and Satisfaction at The Ottawa Hospital
Physician burnout is a global issue characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and low levels of personal accomplishment. Recent evidence suggests that organization-directed interventions were more likely to lead to reductions in burnout when compared to physician-directed interventions. More specifically, the leadership behaviors of the direct physician supervisor play a critical role in the well-being of physicians they supervise.
As such, the aims of this project are: 1) To improve our understanding of the prevalence of burnout and professional satisfaction of physicians working at the Ottawa Hospital (TOH), and 2) To evaluate the relationship between the leadership qualities of direct physician supervisors (i.e. Division and Department Heads) and the well-being and burnout of their physicians. Specifically, a cross-sectional survey will be completed by physicians at TOH to assess their levels of burnout and satisfaction and the leadership qualities of their direct physician supervisors.
Read the detailed description
Physician burnout is a global issue characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and low levels of personal accomplishment. Burnout symptoms as high as 50% have been documented worldwide. According to the 2018 National Physician Health Survey, 30% of Canadian Physicians and Residents are experiencing burnout, with 26% high emotional exhaustion and 15% high depersonalization. Physician burnout is associated with low job satisfaction, decreased quality of patient care, reduced productivity, high job turnover, and early retirement from clinical practice. However, evidence suggests burnout is reversible and even preventable.
Recent evidence suggests that organization-directed interventions were more likely to lead to reductions in burnout when compared to physician-directed interventions. More specifically, the leadership behaviors of the direct physician supervisor play a critical role in the well-being of physicians they supervise. To date, we are unaware of any study that has examined the relationship between organizational leadership and degree of burnout and professional satisfaction in a Canadian tertiary care centre. Understanding physician burnout and professional satisfaction has strategic importance to the health of the physician, the patient, and the organization.
A recent study of 2813 physicians at the Mayo clinic found that each 1-point increase in supervisor's leadership score was associated with a 3.3% decrease in the likelihood of burnout and 9% increase in satisfaction of physicians. Furthermore, 11% and 47% of the variation of burnout and satisfaction, respectively, was attributed to the leadership rating of the physician's supervisor. The findings from this study further highlight the importance of prioritizing leadership as a key performance indicator, but it is necessary to first determine whether the Mayo Clinic's findings can be translated to a Canadian tertiary care centre.
As such, the aims of this project are: 1) To improve our understanding of the prevalence of burnout and professional satisfaction of physicians working at TOH, and 2) To evaluate the relationship between the leadership qualities of direct physician supervisors (i.e. Division and Department Heads) and the well-being and burnout of their physicians.
Our study will use Shanafelt et al's study as a guide to investigate leadership qualities at TOH. A cross-sectional online survey will be completed by physicians at TOH that will assess their levels of burnout and satisfaction and the leadership qualities of their direct physician supervisor.
- Conditions
- Burnout, Professional, Satisfaction, Leadership
- Being tested
- Survey
- Keywords
- burnout, satisfaction, organizational leadership, survey
- Medical subject headings
- Burnout, Professional, Personal Satisfaction, Burnout, Psychological
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
SurveyOther
Survey
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Physicians at The Ottawa Hospital | Online survey completed by physicians working at The Ottawa Hospital consisting of the 2-item Maslach Burnout Inventory, a Satisfaction Questionnaire and the 12-Item Participatory Management Leadership Score. Receives: Other: Survey |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
2-item Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI)
Burnout will be assessed by the 2-item version of the MBI.
Measured: Baseline
Satisfaction Questionnaire
Overall satisfaction with TOH as a health care organization will be evaluated with the following question, rated on a 5-point Likert scale from "very satisfied" to "very dissatisfied": "Considering everything, how would you rate your overall satisfaction with TOH as a whole at the present time?"
Measured: Baseline
12-Item Participatory Management Leadership Index
This validated questionnaire assesses the opinion of the leadership qualities of the physician's immediate supervisor. The 12 items assess specific characteristics of leadership that are measurable and actionable. Participants will also be asked to rate their overall satisfaction with their immediate supervisor on a 5-point Likert scale from "very satisfied" to "very dissatisfied".
Measured: Baseline
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted21 May 2021
- Study start17 May 2021
- Primary completion21 Feb 2022
- Study completion21 Feb 2022
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (18)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Burnout, ProfessionalStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Enrolment
- 383 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Ottawa
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Edward Spilg, University of Ottawa
- Investigators
- Edward Spilg, MBChB, Principal investigator, University of Ottawa
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04896307
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 20200431-01H
- Status last verified
- May 2022
- First submitted
- 14 May 2021
- Last updated
- 1 Jun 2022
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Maslach C, Jackson SE, Leiter MP. Maslach burnout inventory manual. Vol 4: Consulting psychologists press Palo Alto, CA; 1996.
Linzer M, Visser MR, Oort FJ, Smets EM, McMurray JE, de Haes HC; Society of General Internal Medicine (SGIM) Career Satisfaction Study Group (CSSG). Predicting and preventing physician burnout: results from the United States and the Netherlands. Am J Med. 2001 Aug;111(2):170-5. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9343(01)00814-2. No abstract available.
PubMed 11498074Schaufeli WB, Leiter MP, Maslach C. Burnout: 35 years of research and practice. Career development international. 2009;14(3):204-220.
Klein J, Grosse Frie K, Blum K, von dem Knesebeck O. Burnout and perceived quality of care among German clinicians in surgery. Int J Qual Health Care. 2010 Dec;22(6):525-30. doi: 10.1093/intqhc/mzq056. Epub 2010 Oct 8.
PubMed 20935011Panagopoulou E, Montgomery A, Benos A. Burnout in internal medicine physicians: Differences between residents and specialists. Eur J Intern Med. 2006 May;17(3):195-200. doi: 10.1016/j.ejim.2005.11.013.
PubMed 16618453Arigoni F, Bovier PA, Sappino AP. Trend of burnout among Swiss doctors. Swiss Med Wkly. 2010 Aug 9;140:w13070. doi: 10.4414/smw.2010.13070. eCollection 2010.
PubMed 20809437Canadian Medical Association. CMA National Physician Health Survey - A National Snapshot. October 2018.
Weng HC, Hung CM, Liu YT, Cheng YJ, Yen CY, Chang CC, Huang CK. Associations between emotional intelligence and doctor burnout, job satisfaction and patient satisfaction. Med Educ. 2011 Aug;45(8):835-42. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2923.2011.03985.x.
PubMed 21752080Bianchi R, Schonfeld IS, Laurent E. Burnout-depression overlap: a review. Clin Psychol Rev. 2015 Mar;36:28-41. doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2015.01.004. Epub 2015 Jan 17.
PubMed 25638755Dewa CS, Loong D, Bonato S, Thanh NX, Jacobs P. How does burnout affect physician productivity? A systematic literature review. BMC Health Serv Res. 2014 Jul 28;14:325. doi: 10.1186/1472-6963-14-325.
PubMed 25066375Dewa CS, Jacobs P, Thanh NX, Loong D. An estimate of the cost of burnout on early retirement and reduction in clinical hours of practicing physicians in Canada. BMC Health Serv Res. 2014 Jun 13;14:254. doi: 10.1186/1472-6963-14-254.
PubMed 24927847Shanafelt TD, Mungo M, Schmitgen J, Storz KA, Reeves D, Hayes SN, Sloan JA, Swensen SJ, Buskirk SJ. Longitudinal Study Evaluating the Association Between Physician Burnout and Changes in Professional Work Effort. Mayo Clin Proc. 2016 Apr;91(4):422-31. doi: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2016.02.001.
PubMed 27046522Collier R. Physician burnout a major concern. CMAJ. 2017 Oct 2;189(39):E1236-E1237. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.1095496. No abstract available.
PubMed 28970264Panagioti M, Panagopoulou E, Bower P, Lewith G, Kontopantelis E, Chew-Graham C, Dawson S, van Marwijk H, Geraghty K, Esmail A. Controlled Interventions to Reduce Burnout in Physicians: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Intern Med. 2017 Feb 1;177(2):195-205. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.7674.
PubMed 27918798Williams ES, Manwell LB, Konrad TR, Linzer M. The relationship of organizational culture, stress, satisfaction, and burnout with physician-reported error and suboptimal patient care: results from the MEMO study. Health Care Manage Rev. 2007 Jul-Sep;32(3):203-12. doi: 10.1097/01.HMR.0000281626.28363.59.
PubMed 17666991
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 1 Jun 2022. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Impact of Organizational Leadership on Physician Burnout and Satisfaction at The Ottawa Hospital
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04896307
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 20200431-01H
- Conditions
- Burnout, Professional, Satisfaction, Leadership
- Keywords
- burnout, satisfaction, organizational leadership, survey
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 383 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of OttawaUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
- Study start
- 17 May 2021 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 21 Feb 2022 (actual)
- Study completion
- 21 Feb 2022 (actual)
- First posted
- 21 May 2021 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Physician burnout is a global issue characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and low levels of personal accomplishment. Recent evidence suggests that organization-directed interventions were more likely to lead to reductions in burnout when compared to physician-directed interventions. More specifically, the leadership behaviors of the direct physician supervisor play a critical role in the well-being of physicians they supervise.
As such, the aims of this project are: 1) To improve our understanding of the prevalence of burnout and professional satisfaction of physicians working at the Ottawa Hospital (TOH), and 2) To evaluate the relationship between the leadership qualities of direct physician supervisors (i.e. Division and Department Heads) and the well-being and burnout of their physicians. Specifically, a cross-sectional survey will be completed by physicians at TOH to assess their levels of burnout and satisfaction and the leadership qualities of their direct physician supervisors.
Detailed description
Physician burnout is a global issue characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and low levels of personal accomplishment. Burnout symptoms as high as 50% have been documented worldwide. According to the 2018 National Physician Health Survey, 30% of Canadian Physicians and Residents are experiencing burnout, with 26% high emotional exhaustion and 15% high depersonalization. Physician burnout is associated with low job satisfaction, decreased quality of patient care, reduced productivity, high job turnover, and early retirement from clinical practice. However, evidence suggests burnout is reversible and even preventable.
Recent evidence suggests that organization-directed interventions were more likely to lead to reductions in burnout when compared to physician-directed interventions. More specifically, the leadership behaviors of the direct physician supervisor play a critical role in the well-being of physicians they supervise. To date, we are unaware of any study that has examined the relationship between organizational leadership and degree of burnout and professional satisfaction in a Canadian tertiary care centre. Understanding physician burnout and professional satisfaction has strategic importance to the health of the physician, the patient, and the organization.
A recent study of 2813 physicians at the Mayo clinic found that each 1-point increase in supervisor's leadership score was associated with a 3.3% decrease in the likelihood of burnout and 9% increase in satisfaction of physicians. Furthermore, 11% and 47% of the variation of burnout and satisfaction, respectively, was attributed to the leadership rating of the physician's supervisor. The findings from this study further highlight the importance of prioritizing leadership as a key performance indicator, but it is necessary to first determine whether the Mayo Clinic's findings can be translated to a Canadian tertiary care centre.
As such, the aims of this project are: 1) To improve our understanding of the prevalence of burnout and professional satisfaction of physicians working at TOH, and 2) To evaluate the relationship between the leadership qualities of direct physician supervisors (i.e. Division and Department Heads) and the well-being and burnout of their physicians.
Our study will use Shanafelt et al's study as a guide to investigate leadership qualities at TOH. A cross-sectional online survey will be completed by physicians at TOH that will assess their levels of burnout and satisfaction and the leadership qualities of their direct physician supervisor.
Study design
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Physicians at The Ottawa Hospital | – | Other: SurveyOnline survey completed by physicians working at The Ottawa Hospital consisting of the 2-item Maslach Burnout Inventory, a Satisfaction Questionnaire and the 12-Item Participatory Management Leadership Score. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- All physicians working at The Ottawa Hospital
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- all physicians working at The Ottawa Hospital
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- none
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| SurveySurvey | Other | Physicians at The Ottawa Hospital |
Primary outcome
2-item Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI)
Time frame: Baseline
Burnout will be assessed by the 2-item version of the MBI.
Satisfaction Questionnaire
Time frame: Baseline
Overall satisfaction with TOH as a health care organization will be evaluated with the following question, rated on a 5-point Likert scale from "very satisfied" to "very dissatisfied": "Considering everything, how would you rate your overall satisfaction with TOH as a whole at the present time?"
12-Item Participatory Management Leadership Index
Time frame: Baseline
This validated questionnaire assesses the opinion of the leadership qualities of the physician's immediate supervisor. The 12 items assess specific characteristics of leadership that are measurable and actionable. Participants will also be asked to rate their overall satisfaction with their immediate supervisor on a 5-point Likert scale from "very satisfied" to "very dissatisfied".
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 1 Jun 2022.
- BackgroundMaslach C, Jackson SE, Leiter MP. Maslach burnout inventory manual. Vol 4: Consulting psychologists press Palo Alto, CA; 1996.
- Background: PubMed 11498074Linzer M, Visser MR, Oort FJ, Smets EM, McMurray JE, de Haes HC; Society of General Internal Medicine (SGIM) Career Satisfaction Study Group (CSSG). Predicting and preventing physician burnout: results from the United States and the Netherlands. Am J Med. 2001 Aug;111(2):170-5. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9343(01)00814-2. No abstract available.
- BackgroundSchaufeli WB, Leiter MP, Maslach C. Burnout: 35 years of research and practice. Career development international. 2009;14(3):204-220.
- Background: PubMed 20935011Klein J, Grosse Frie K, Blum K, von dem Knesebeck O. Burnout and perceived quality of care among German clinicians in surgery. Int J Qual Health Care. 2010 Dec;22(6):525-30. doi: 10.1093/intqhc/mzq056. Epub 2010 Oct 8.
- Background: PubMed 16618453Panagopoulou E, Montgomery A, Benos A. Burnout in internal medicine physicians: Differences between residents and specialists. Eur J Intern Med. 2006 May;17(3):195-200. doi: 10.1016/j.ejim.2005.11.013.
- Background: PubMed 20809437Arigoni F, Bovier PA, Sappino AP. Trend of burnout among Swiss doctors. Swiss Med Wkly. 2010 Aug 9;140:w13070. doi: 10.4414/smw.2010.13070. eCollection 2010.
- BackgroundCanadian Medical Association. CMA National Physician Health Survey - A National Snapshot. October 2018.
- Background: PubMed 21752080Weng HC, Hung CM, Liu YT, Cheng YJ, Yen CY, Chang CC, Huang CK. Associations between emotional intelligence and doctor burnout, job satisfaction and patient satisfaction. Med Educ. 2011 Aug;45(8):835-42. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2923.2011.03985.x.
- Background: PubMed 25638755Bianchi R, Schonfeld IS, Laurent E. Burnout-depression overlap: a review. Clin Psychol Rev. 2015 Mar;36:28-41. doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2015.01.004. Epub 2015 Jan 17.
- Background: PubMed 25066375Dewa CS, Loong D, Bonato S, Thanh NX, Jacobs P. How does burnout affect physician productivity? A systematic literature review. BMC Health Serv Res. 2014 Jul 28;14:325. doi: 10.1186/1472-6963-14-325.
- Background: PubMed 24927847Dewa CS, Jacobs P, Thanh NX, Loong D. An estimate of the cost of burnout on early retirement and reduction in clinical hours of practicing physicians in Canada. BMC Health Serv Res. 2014 Jun 13;14:254. doi: 10.1186/1472-6963-14-254.
- Background: PubMed 27046522Shanafelt TD, Mungo M, Schmitgen J, Storz KA, Reeves D, Hayes SN, Sloan JA, Swensen SJ, Buskirk SJ. Longitudinal Study Evaluating the Association Between Physician Burnout and Changes in Professional Work Effort. Mayo Clin Proc. 2016 Apr;91(4):422-31. doi: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2016.02.001.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Edward Spilg, MBChB principal investigator
University of Ottawa
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Burnout, Professional and Satisfaction, run by University of Ottawa at 1 site in Canada.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 1 Jun 2022. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Canada. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
2-item Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) (time frame: Baseline). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04896307, which also lists 18 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 1 Jun 2022.