Emergency physician risk of occupational mortality: A scoping review

Goolsby, Craig; Lala, Vidya; Gebner, Riley; Dacuyan-Faucher, Nicole; Charlton, Nathan P.; Schuler, Keke

doi:10.1002/emp2.12554

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…More worryingly, our study also illustrates the ultimate consequences of these difficult working conditions, with 10.8% of respondents reporting having considered suicide at some point during their career as an emergency physician and nearly half having contemplated this in the 12 months prior to our study. In a profession reluctant to seek help for depression [27,28] where suicide is not uncommon [14,[29][30][31][32], attention needs to be focused on prevention by resolving issues that negatively influence wellbeing.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physician wellbeing and burnout in emergency medicine in Switzerland

Heymann,

Romann,

Lim

et al. 2024

Swiss Med Wkly

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Emergency physicians are the most at-risk medical specialist group for burnout. Given its consequences for patient care and physician health and its resulting increased attrition rates, ensuring the wellbeing of emergency physicians is vital for preserving the integrity of the safety net for the healthcare system that is emergency medicine. In an effort to understand the current state of practicing physicians, this study reviews the results of the first national e-survey on physician wellbeing and burnout in emergency medicine in Switzerland. Addressed to all emergency physicians between March and April 2023, it received 611 complete responses. More than half of respondents met at least one criterion for burnout according to the Maslach Burnout Inventory – Human Services Survey (59.2%) and the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (54.1%). In addition, more than half reported symptoms suggestive of mild to severe depression, with close to 20% screening positively for moderate to severe depression, nearly 4 times the incidence in the general population, according to the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. We found that 10.8% of respondents reported having considered suicide at some point in their career, with nearly half having considered this in the previous 12 months. The resulting high attrition rates (40.6% of respondents had considered leaving emergency medicine because of their working conditions) call into question the sustainability of the system. Coinciding with trends observed in other international studies on burnout in emergency medicine, this study reinforces the fact that certain factors associated with wellbeing are intrinsic to emergency medicine working conditions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physician wellbeing and burnout in emergency medicine in Switzerland

Heymann,

Romann,

Lim

et al. 2024

Swiss Med Wkly

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Multiple occupational hazards have been attributed to the practice of emergency medicine (EM) [18], EM clinicians have a 20% higher morbidity due to coronary artery disease, motor vehicle accidents, and impaired reproductive health [19][20][21][22]. Clinicians working night shifts, an essential practice in EM, have less restorative sleep, elevated blood pressure, and lower heart rate variability (HRV) [19,[23][24][25][26]. Before the pandemic, the prevalence of stress, exhaustion, and burnout was alarmingly high in EM [27,28].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigating the Feasibility of Using a Wearable Device to Measure Physiologic Health Data in Emergency Nurses and Residents: Observational Cohort Study

Agarwal,

Gonzales,

Scott

et al. 2024

JMIR Form Res

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Background Emergency departments play a pivotal role in the US health care system, with high use rates and inherent stress placed on patients, patient care, and clinicians. The impact of the emergency department environment on the health and well-being of emergency residents and nurses can be seen in worsening rates of burnout and cardiovascular health. Research on clinician health has historically been completed outside of clinical areas and not personalized to the individual. The expansion of digital technology, specifically wearable devices, may enhance the ability to understand how health care environments impact clinicians. Objective The primary objective of this pilot study was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of using wearable devices to measure and record physiologic data from emergency nurses and resident physicians. Understanding strategies that are accepted and used by clinicians is critical prior to launching larger investigations aimed at improving outcomes. Methods This was a longitudinal pilot study conducted at an academic, urban, level 1 trauma center. A total of 20 participants, including emergency medicine resident physicians and nurses, were equipped with a wearable device (WHOOP band) and access to a mobile health platform for 6 weeks. Baseline surveys assessed burnout, mental health, and expectations of the device and experience. Participants provided open-ended feedback on the device and platform, contributing to the assessment of acceptance, adoption, and use of the wearable device. Secondary measures explored early signs and variations in heart rate variability, sleep, recovery, burnout, and mental health assessments. Results Of the 20 participants, 10 consistently used the wearable device. Feedback highlighted varying experiences with the device, with a preference for more common wearables like the Apple Watch or Fitbit. Resident physicians demonstrated higher engagement with the device and platform as compared with nurses. Baseline mental health assessments indicated mild anxiety and depressive symptoms among participants. The Professional Fulfillment Index revealed low professional fulfillment, moderate workplace exhaustion, and interpersonal disengagement. Conclusions This pilot study underscores the potential of wearable devices in monitoring emergency clinicians’ physiologic data but reveals challenges related to device preferences and engagement. The key takeaway is the necessity to optimize device and platform design for clinician use. Larger, randomized trials are recommended to further explore and refine strategies for leveraging wearable technology to support the well-being of the emergency workforce.

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Investigating the Feasibility of Using a Wearable Device to Measure Physiologic Health Data in Emergency Nurses and Residents: Observational Cohort Study (Preprint)

Agarwal,

Gonzales,

Scott

et al. 2023

Preprint

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BACKGROUND Emergency departments play a pivotal role in the US health care system, with high use rates and inherent stress placed on patients, patient care, and clinicians. The impact of the emergency department environment on the health and well-being of emergency residents and nurses can be seen in worsening rates of burnout and cardiovascular health. Research on clinician health has historically been completed outside of clinical areas and not personalized to the individual. The expansion of digital technology, specifically wearable devices, may enhance the ability to understand how health care environments impact clinicians. OBJECTIVE The primary objective of this pilot study was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of using wearable devices to measure and record physiologic data from emergency nurses and resident physicians. Understanding strategies that are accepted and used by clinicians is critical prior to launching larger investigations aimed at improving outcomes. METHODS This was a longitudinal pilot study conducted at an academic, urban, level 1 trauma center. A total of 20 participants, including emergency medicine resident physicians and nurses, were equipped with a wearable device (WHOOP band) and access to a mobile health platform for 6 weeks. Baseline surveys assessed burnout, mental health, and expectations of the device and experience. Participants provided open-ended feedback on the device and platform, contributing to the assessment of acceptance, adoption, and use of the wearable device. Secondary measures explored early signs and variations in heart rate variability, sleep, recovery, burnout, and mental health assessments. RESULTS Of the 20 participants, 10 consistently used the wearable device. Feedback highlighted varying experiences with the device, with a preference for more common wearables like the Apple Watch or Fitbit. Resident physicians demonstrated higher engagement with the device and platform as compared with nurses. Baseline mental health assessments indicated mild anxiety and depressive symptoms among participants. The Professional Fulfillment Index revealed low professional fulfillment, moderate workplace exhaustion, and interpersonal disengagement. CONCLUSIONS This pilot study underscores the potential of wearable devices in monitoring emergency clinicians’ physiologic data but reveals challenges related to device preferences and engagement. The key takeaway is the necessity to optimize device and platform design for clinician use. Larger, randomized trials are recommended to further explore and refine strategies for leveraging wearable technology to support the well-being of the emergency workforce. CLINICALTRIAL None

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Emergency physician risk of occupational mortality: A scoping review

Cited by 3 publications

References 11 publications

Physician wellbeing and burnout in emergency medicine in Switzerland

Physician wellbeing and burnout in emergency medicine in Switzerland

Investigating the Feasibility of Using a Wearable Device to Measure Physiologic Health Data in Emergency Nurses and Residents: Observational Cohort Study

Investigating the Feasibility of Using a Wearable Device to Measure Physiologic Health Data in Emergency Nurses and Residents: Observational Cohort Study (Preprint)

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