PC2059: Electronic Health Record Experience and Pediatrician Burnout During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: Burnout is an occupational phenomenon characterized by workplace exhaustion and interpersonal disengagement. A 2017 survey showed that 44% of physicians demonstrated at least one symptom of burnout. Several factors have been associated with increased risk of physician burnout, including Electronic Health Record (EHR) documentation and administrative burden. The objective of this study was to describe the association between pediatric faculty experiences with the EHR and burnout in a children’s hospital within a quaternary academic center in the Midwest.

Methods: Our cross sectional study was a secondary analysis of pediatric faculty data from an institutional wellbeing survey conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic between October and November 2020. Burnout was assessed with the validated Stanford Professional Fulfillment Index; negative EHR experience was assessed with three questions (Figure 1). We calculated mean composite scores for each participant and classified participants as having or not having a negative EHR experience based on the group median score. Burnout was dichotomized as present or not based on standard scoring. Pearson chi-square test was performed to assess the relationship between negative EHR experience and burnout. The study was IRB approved.

Results: The survey was sent to 161 participants with a response rate of 69.5%. All 112 respondents were included in the secondary analysis. Burnout was present in 44.2% of physicians reporting negative EHR experiences compared to 21.7% of physicians without negative EHR experiences. The difference was significant, p=0.011 (Table 1).

Conclusion: Negative experiences with the EHR are associated with an increased rate of burnout among pediatricians at our academic children’s hospital. Results suggest an opportunity to use focused interventions to simultaneously improve physician EHR experience and well-being.