The Association Between Burnout and Pediatrician Management of Adolescent Depression

Abstract

Objective: Given the increased demand for pediatric primary care providers to manage adolescent depression, the current study examines the association between burnout and provider comfort and perception of feasibility managing adolescent depression. Method: Data were collected from 52 pediatricians at a Midwest academic health center. Results: Higher scores on depersonalization were associated with lower provider-reported comfort managing adolescent depression. Emotional exhaustion and personal accomplishment were not associated with provider-reported comfort managing adolescent depression. None of the burnout domains were associated with the provider-reported perception of the feasibility managing adolescent depression in this setting. Limitations and recommendations for future research regarding the impact of behavioral health training on burnout are discussed. Conclusions: The interpersonal stress dimension of burnout is associated with less comfort managing depression. Adding positive systematic interventions, such as behavioral health trainings that support pediatricians in the management of behavioral health may have impact on burnout.

Primary care experiences of providing mental healthcare for children in the USA during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study

“…With limited mental health training, many PCPs lack confidence in their ability to provide effective care for patients with common mental health needs. [8][9][10] During the pandemic, PCPs have been challenged to provide care while keeping themselves and their staff safe, and their businesses viable. [11][12][13] They have had to implement new ways to conduct business such as telehealth, as well as manage staff and clinician shortages.…”

“… 11–13 They have had to implement new ways to conduct business such as telehealth, as well as manage staff and clinician shortages. 10 Continued exposure to high levels of stress in the workplace can lead to anxiety, depression, stress and burnout in healthcare providers. 11 12 Burnout is ‘a syndrome consisting of emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation (becoming more callous towards patients) and a diminished sense of personal accomplishment, which is primarily driven by workplace stressors’ 14 15 such as inadequate resources to keep up with increasing demands.…”

“… 11 12 Burnout is ‘a syndrome consisting of emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation (becoming more callous towards patients) and a diminished sense of personal accomplishment, which is primarily driven by workplace stressors’ 14 15 such as inadequate resources to keep up with increasing demands. 10 Burnout is associated with adverse effects on physician health (depression, suicidal ideation, substance abuse, poor self-care), patient care (lower quality, more errors) and on the healthcare system (reduced productivity, increased turnover). 15 Many frontline healthcare workers have reported increasing stress, burnout and exhaustion in themselves and their staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.…”

A Clarion Call: COVID-19 and the Pediatric Behavioral Health Inpatient Crisis

“…Second, besides its effect on pediatric trainees, persistently high ED and inpatient volumes of children with behavioral health issues will continue to substantially affect the work of pediatric emergency medicine, hospital medicine, and psychiatric providers by increasing risk for practitioner dissatisfaction and burnout. It has been established that pediatric generalists practicing in the outpatient setting who care for pediatric patients with behavioral health issues endure high rates of burnout in the course of such care 12 . Although the effect of caring for this population by pediatric hospitalists has not been studied, given the fact that children with primary behavior health issues are typically admitted to general medicine services when psychiatric services are not available, 13 it is probable that a similar risk exists for pediatric hospitalists.…”

“…It has been established that pediatric generalists practicing in the outpatient setting who care for pediatric patients with behavioral health issues endure high rates of burnout in the course of such care. 12 Although the effect of caring for this population by pediatric hospitalists has not been studied, given the fact that children with primary behavior health issues are typically admitted to general medicine services when psychiatric services are not available, 13 it is probable that a similar risk exists for pediatric hospitalists. This association between burnout and care for pediatric patients with behavioral health complaints has been established for pediatric emergency medicine practitioners who reported moral distress at feeling ill equipped to care for this patient population even before the onset of COVID-19.…”