Burnout Trends Among US Health Care Workers

Burnout among health care workers is a widespread concern in health care both before and since the COVID-19 pandemic, yet little is known about health care workers' burnout levels across occupations and settings.

To examine trends in burnout and professional stress reported among health care workers working at the US Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and identify occupations that experienced notable changes and the factors associated with changes. Design, Setting, and Participants: This survey study used a retrospective cohort design grouped by key factors associated with burnout and professional stress. Responses to an annual organization-wide survey at 140 medical centers from 2018 to 2023 were used. Exposures: Respondents self-reported on 2 burnout items (ie, "I feel burned out from my work" and "I worry that this job is hardening me emotionally") from the Maslach Burnout Inventory during all study years and professional stress (moderate or lower vs high or extreme) from COVID-19 from 2020 to 2023. Main Outcome and Measures: Trends by occupation, telework status, and geographic region were examined, as well as the general pattern over time and the change in burnout and stress rates in the years following the start of the pandemic.