In the News
Efficacy of Individual-Level Interventions to Mitigate the Risk for Burnout Among Health Care Professionals: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Annals of Internal Medicine: G. Collett, PhD; J. Gupta, MD; A. Eltayeb, MBBS, MPH; A. Korszun, MD, PhD; L. Sharples, PhD; K. Rice, PhD; A.K. Gupta, MD, PhD
The aim of this study was to identify and summarize published randomized controlled trials evaluating all interventions to reduce burnout among all health care providers (HCPs) and evaluate their efficacy within specific roles. Although mindfulness-based interventions may reduce burnout in nurses and midwives and among a mixture of HCPs, professional coaching probably reduces burnout among physicians, particularly when sustained for more than 4 weeks.
Ambient documentation appears to reduce clinician workload
I.M. Matters Weekly
A hybrid ambient documentation program combining generative artificial intelligence with a virtual scribe was associated with less after-hours work, faster note completion, and better financial productivity within 50 days for primary care clinicians.
The Causes and Impacts of Burnout Among Primary Care Physicians in 10 Countries
The Commonwealth Fund: M.Z. Gunja; C. Horstman; C. Lewis; E.D. Gumas; A. Shih
Despite the critical role of primary care physicians (PCPs) in preventive care and chronic disease management, PCPs lack support for their mental and physical well-being, resulting in pervasive burnout. Physicians report emotional exhaustion and reduced personal accomplishment that, if left unaddressed, will undermine the performance of our health systems. This brief uses findings from the 2025 Commonwealth Fund International Health Policy Survey of Primary Care Physicians to examine the factors contributing to burnout among primary care physicians, how their experiences influence their ability and perception of practicing medicine, and strategies to combat burnout and improve health system performance.
Informing Hospital Physician Well-Being Interventions in Europe and the US
JAMA Network: L.H. Aiken, PhD, RN; W. Sermeus, PhD, MSc, RN; M. McKee, MD, DSc, MSc, MB, BCh, BAO
In this cross-sectional study among 21,396 physicians and nurses, indicators of poor well-being were high among physicians in Europe and the US. Physician outcomes were better in hospitals with adequate nurse staffing, supportive care environments, and effective interdisciplinary teamwork. This study's findings suggest that a promising solution to the concerning levels of unfavorable physician well-being may be implementation of interventions that improve physician hospital work environments, including attention to adequate nurse staffing, organizational structures to promote interdisciplinary teams, and collaboration between physicians and nurses.
Back to the January 16, 2026 issue of ACP IM Thriving