Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2021 Apr 23;28(5):1009-1021.
doi: 10.1093/jamia/ocab009.

Exploring the relationship between electronic health records and provider burnout: A systematic review

Qi Yan  1   2 , Zheng Jiang  3 , Zachary Harbin  4 , Preston H Tolbert  4 , Mark G Davies  1   2
Affiliations

Exploring the relationship between electronic health records and provider burnout: A systematic review

Qi Yan et al. J Am Med Inform Assoc. .

Abstract

Objective: Stress and burnout due to electronic health record (EHR) technology has become a focus for burnout intervention. The aim of this study is to systematically review the relationship between EHR use and provider burnout.

Materials and methods: A systematic literature search was performed on PubMed, EMBASE, PsychInfo, ACM Digital Library in accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) statement. Inclusion criterion was original research investigating the association between EHR and provider burnout. Studies that did not measure the association objectively were excluded. Study quality was assessed using the Medical Education Research Study Quality Instrument. Qualitative synthesis was also performed.

Results: Twenty-six studies met inclusion criteria. The median sample size of providers was 810 (total 20 885; 44% male; mean age 53 [range, 34-56] years). Twenty-three (88%) studies were cross-sectional studies and 3 were single-arm cohort studies measuring pre- and postintervention burnout prevalence. Burnout was assessed objectively with various validated instruments. Insufficient time for documentation (odds ratio [OR], 1.40-5.83), high inbox or patient call message volumes (OR, 2.06-6.17), and negative perceptions of EHR by providers (OR, 2.17-2.44) were the 3 most cited EHR-related factors associated with higher rates of provider burnout that was assessed objectively.

Conclusions: The included studies were mostly observational studies; thus, we were not able to determine a causal relationship. Currently, there are few studies that objectively assessed the relationship between EHR use and provider burnout. The 3 most cited EHR factors associated with burnout were confirmed and should be the focus of efforts to improve EHR-related provider burnout.

Keywords: electronic health records; health information technology; provider burnout; systematic review.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) flow diagram for search and selection process.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Williams ES, Rathert C, Buttigieg SC.. The personal and professional consequences of physician burnout: a systematic review of the literature. Med Care Res Rev 2020; 77 (5): 371–86. - PubMed
    1. World Health Organization. Burn-out an “occupational phenomenon”: International Classification of Diseases. https://www.who.int/mental_health/evidence/burn-out/en/ Accessed June 15, 2020.
    1. Shanafelt TD, West CP, Sinsky C, et al.Changes in burnout and satisfaction with work-life integration in physicians and the general US working population between 2011 and 2017. Mayo Clin Proc 2019; 94 (9): 1681–94. - PubMed
    1. Shanafelt TD, Dyrbye LN, Sinsky C, et al.Relationship between clerical burden and characteristics of the electronic environment with physician burnout and professional satisfaction. Mayo Clin Proc 2016; 91 (7): 836–48. - PubMed
    1. Dyrbye LN, Shanafelt TD, Johnson PO, et al.A cross-sectional study exploring the relationship between burnout, absenteeism, and job performance among American nurses. BMC Nurs 2019; 18 (1): 57. - PMC - PubMed

Publication types