Loss of Meaning at Work Associated with Burnout Risk in Academic Medicine. Issue 3 (March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Messias, Erick; Flynn, Victoria; Gathright, Molly; Thrush, Carol; Atkinson, Timothy; Thapa, Puru
• Is Part Of: Southern medical journal. Volume 114:Issue 3(2021)
• Page Start: 139
• Page End: 143
• Publication Date: 2021-03
• Subjects: academic medicine -- meaning at work -- meaningful work -- professional burnout -- work-related burnout; Medicine -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.14423/SMJ.0000000000001220
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0038-4348

Abstract

Abstract : The authors surveyed healthcare professionals in an academic medical center in Arkansas simultaneously on work-related burnout (as measured by the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory) and on Meaningful Work (as measured by items extracted from the Work as Meaning Inventory). They found a strong negative linear association between meaningful work and workrelated burnout risk. Abstract : Objectives: Meaning at work has been proposed as one of the key drivers of professional burnout in healthcare, but few studies have simultaneously measured this relation. Methods: In this cross-sectional analysis of 1637 individuals at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, burnout was measured using the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory work-related subscale. Results: Meaningful work was measured using items adapted from the Work as Meaning Inventory. The prevalence of work-related burnout increased with each level of diminished meaning at work. From the highest ("always") to the lowest ("never") level of meaning at work, the prevalence of burnout was: 13, 26, 57, 84, and 94%, respectively. Conclusions: Work-related burnout was inversely proportional to reported meaning at work in an academic medical center.