Organizational Interventions to Address Primary Care Provider Burnout: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Primary care providers (PCPs) in the United States experience burnout more frequently than clinicians in other care settings. Interventions addressing PCP burnout are urgently needed. Organizational-level interventions implemented in the workplace may help address burnout, as poor organizational conditions are primary contributors to burnout. This review synthesized existing evidence on organizational-level interventions’ effects on PCP burnout in the United States. A comprehensive search was conducted in four databases and selected journals. Thirteen studies were included, and four overarching categories of interventions emerged. Interventions that addressed the workload, control, and community areas of worklife resulted in notable burnout reduction. Organizations considering using workload interventions to reduce PCP burnout should incorporate both human and time resources. PCP engagement in intervention design and implementation is crucial and may affect burnout. More studies are needed on interventions that target nurse practitioners and physician assistants who increasingly serve as PCPs.