Small-Group Professional Coaching Reduces Physician Burnout by up to 30 Percent

Strategic Insights -

A new study has found that small-group professional coaching can significantly reduce physician burnout rates by up to 30 percent. The study, published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, analyzed the effects of both small-group and one-on-one professional coaching on physician burnout and work engagement. The researchers found that participants receiving small-group coaching experienced a 29.6 percent reduction in burnout rates, while those receiving one-on-one coaching saw a 13.4 percent reduction.

Key Takeaways:

  • Small-group professional coaching reduced physician burnout rates by up to 30 percent, with a 29.6 percent absolute reduction in burnout rates compared to a waitlist control.
  • One-on-one coaching resulted in a 13.4 percent absolute reduction in burnout rates, with a 40.7 percent difference-in-differences compared to the control group.
  • There was no significant difference in burnout reduction between the small-group and one-on-one interventions, with a 15.9 percent difference in favor of small-group coaching.
  • Burnout remained stable in the small-group intervention after six months, while the one-on-one group continued to decrease in burnout rates without further intervention.
  • Physician burnout affects not only individual physicians but also the quality of care patients receive, making this a public health priority.
  • The small-group coaching model is a cost-effective alternative to one-on-one coaching and can be scaled up to reach more physicians.

Statistics:

  • 79 internal medicine faculty attending physicians participated in the study, randomly assigned to small-group or one-on-one coaching.
  • The study used six one-hour, virtual coaching sessions over four months, with a waitlist control group.
  • The small-group coaching resulted in a 29.6 percent absolute reduction in burnout rates, compared to an 11.1 percent increase in control physicians.
  • The one-on-one coaching resulted in a 13.4 percent absolute reduction in burnout rates, compared to an 11.1 percent increase in control physicians.
  • The difference-in-differences for small-group coaching was -40.7 percent, and -25.0 percent for one-on-one coaching.

Sources:

  • Khalili, J., et al. "Small-group vs. one-on-one professional coaching to reduce physician burnout." Journal of General Internal Medicine, July 2022.
  • David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles.
  • Journal of General Internal Medicine.