On Emergency Physician Burnout and Its Impaction on Turnouver Intention

Objective: To investigate the distribution and correlates of burnout and its impact on turnover intention among emergency physicians in Taiwan. ethods: Questionnaires containing the Chinese version of the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (C-CBI) were delivered to 840 diplomates of the Taiwan Society of Emergency Medicine (TSEM).Psychological job demands, job resources, work hours, shift length, pay systems, and institutes characteristics were also assessed.esults: Of the 528 physicians returning the questionnaire, most were male of 30 to 50 years old. The mean burnout scores of emergency physicians were much higher than paid employees in Taiwan. Physicians who were single, had 60-80% clinical hours to be night shifts, working in a medical center had higher burnout scores. Those who were remunerated through a performance-based pay without a basic salary, working in public hospitals had not only higher burnout scores but also stronger intention of turnover. Elder physicians had lower level of job demands and burnout. The length of practice is negatively related to burnout and shifts number, and shifts number is positively related to job demands. Litigation concerns, work-home conflicts and academic responsibilities were significantly associated with burnout, while burnout is significantly associated with turnover intention of emergency physicians.onclusion: This study not only confirms the relatively high level of burnout in emergency physicians but also identified the correlates of burnout and its impact on turnover intention. As a result, it provides directions for human resources management and health promotion strategies in the emergency department.