The Work-life Check-ins: a Supervisor-driven Intervention to Reduce Burnout in Primary Care
Oregon Health and Science University
Summary
The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and process of frequent supervisor-employee check-ins in reducing burnout among employees of primary care clinics in Portland, OR. Healthcare workers are at risk for burnout and associated adverse health and safety outcomes, including chronic diseases and occupational injuries. Not only does burnout affect healthcare workers, but burnout also affects the quality of patient care. The proposed study will create a check-in process between supervisors and healthcare workers, which addresses supervisor support, awareness of services and resources, and work-life balance. The Work-life Check-ins project expects to see reduced burnout among employees participating in the check-ins intervention compared to those in the control group.
Description
Burnout is a manifestation of chronic work stress characterized by emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and diminished self-efficacy. The burden of burnout is alarming, especially within healthcare where it affects at least one-third of the workforce, including clinicians and support staff. The causes of healthcare worker burnout are multifactorial, including systemic pressures (e.g., intensification of charting duties, prolonged work hours with circadian and work-life disruptions, exposure to trauma), and unit-level characteristics (e.g., value misalignment and mistrust between team members and le…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * At least 18 years of age * Employed at one of the 12 OHSU primary care clinics that weren't involved in the pilot study * Supervisors (medical director, practice manager, supervisors, leads) * Employees (patient-facing; back and front of the clinic) * Patient Access Specialists * Medical Assistants * MDs, RNs, NPs Exclusion Criteria: * Under the age of 18 * Employed at an OHSU primary care clinic that participated in the pilot study * Non-clinic employees
Interventions
- OtherSupervisor-employee frequent check-ins to identify and address work stressors
Supervisors will complete three training modules: 1) how and why the check-ins are expected to address burnout; 2) how to demonstrate supportive supervision during the check-ins process, and 3) principle of quality improvement applied to the check-ins
- OtherUsual practice waitlist controls
If the check-ins are successful in reducing burnout, supervisors at the control clinics will be offered the training modules
Locations (2)
- OHSUPortland, Oregon
- OHSUPortland, Oregon