Physician Burnout

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Abstract
Burnout is pervasive among physicians and is rapidly becoming a pandemic in healthcare. It is characterized by increasing demands without adequate support and hallmarked by depersonalization, emotional exhaustion, and a reduced sense of personal accomplishment. It is essential to address burnout, as it can lead to decreased productivity, increased healthcare costs, medical errors, workforce attrition, depression, and even suicide. Many factors contribute to burnout, and it occurs at all stages of medicine: it can begin during medical school, intensify during the years of graduate medical education (GME) or residency training, and persist as residents become staff physicians. It affects both sexes, but may impact female physicians disproportionately. Impact can also vary among specialties. Recognizing the problem and intervening with unified physician and organization-directed solutions centered on well-being, efficient practice models, and goal prioritization may help to reduce the prevalence and effects of burnout.