Abstract
In the last decade, significant progress has been made in recognizing physician burnout, traditionally defined as a work-related phenomenon characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a decreased sense of personal accomplishment, as a key public health issue. There is enhanced understanding of demographic differences in well-being, such as greater compassion fatigue and lower professional fulfillment among female compared with male physicians and differences across specialties. The widespread prevalence of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and decreased personal accomplishment among physicians and their relationship with quality, safety, patient outcomes, and physician turnover are increasingly recognized, with health systems and influential bodies across the country actively seeking to address these issues.
