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Dissertation
Nephrologist Burnout and Coping Strategies During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.), Drexel University
Feb 2024
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00010431
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting worldwide healthcare crisis cast a spotlight on the incredibly important and arduous work performed by healthcare providers. The level of stress experienced by physicians during this period was significant and has increased physician burnout. Burnout is a syndrome with profound consequences for physicians and patients. It has been linked to significant health issues for physicians including depression and suicide, and is also correlated with poor patient care. Burnout also contributes to the instability of the healthcare workforce. Under the extreme conditions of the pandemic, some physicians chose to decrease their work hours, retire early, leave the profession, or find non-clinical positions. The COVID-19 pandemic took an especially significant toll on patients with kidney disease, especially those with End Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) on dialysis. These patients have multiple co-morbidities and experienced a 4-fold increase in mortality as compared to patients not on dialysis. The result is that the nephrologists caring for these patients were exposed to an extreme amount of human suffering and death during the pandemic. Using a quantitative approach, the research objective was to study the coping strategies used by nephrologists during the COVID-19 pandemic and the effectiveness of those strategies on nephrologist burnout and turnover intention. Coping strategies studied include meaning-in-life, calling, emotion-focused coping, religion-focused coping, problem-focused coping, and music listening. A survey was administered electronically to nephrologists throughout the United States. A total of 236 completed surveys were received. General linear modeling demonstrated no significant relationship between the demographic categories of gender, age, years as a nephrologist, hours worked, employer, or work setting to the dependent variables of nephrologist burnout and turnover intention. Findings demonstrate three primary drivers of turnover intention, emotional exhaustion, calling, and professional fulfillment. Study results show that calling is significantly related to nephrologist burnout and turnover intention. Based on the literature, meaning-in-life was similarly expected to significantly correlate with nephrologist burnout and turnover intention, however, it was only significant for one aspect of burnout, professional fulfillment. Emotion-focused and religion-focused coping was not significantly related to nephrologist burnout or turnover intention. Problem-focused coping was significantly correlated to all aspects of nephrologist burnout but was not significant for turnover intention. Lastly, music was significant for one aspect of burnout, emotional exhaustion. Music listening did impact emotional exhaustion such that two of the primary drivers of turnover intention, calling and professional fulfillment were no longer significant when respondents listened to music as a coping strategy.
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Details
- Title
- Nephrologist Burnout and Coping Strategies During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Creators
- Suzanne Jane Przybyla
- Contributors
- David Gefen (Advisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- xii, 139 pages
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Bennett S. LeBow College of Business; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 991021867614304721