Trends in burnout and related measures of organizational stress among leaders of department of veterans affairs medical centers

Psychological burnout significantly and detrimentally affects individuals a nd the organizations for which they work. Leaders with burnout often displa y characteristics that are the opposite of those required to implement majo r organizational range. This study was undertaken to assess the level of ps ychological burnout of leaders of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) m edical centers during a period of rapid change. The objective was to quanti fy trends in the level of burnout and associated measures of psychological stress. Surveys of medical center directors, associate medical center directors, an d chiefs of staff of each VA medical center were conducted in 1989, 1992, a nd 1997 to evaluate burnout, role characteristics, and job satisfaction. Bu rnout was measured using the Maslach Burnout Inventory and scored using the phase model of burnout. Findings demonstrated higher prevalences of more advanced levels of burnout in the 1992 and 1997 surveys than in the 1989 survey. Role clarity, percei ved adequacy of resources to complete assigned tasks, and several measures of job satisfaction were lower in the 1997 survey compared to the earlier s urvey data. Therefore, psychological burnout and other indicators of stress increased during the 1989 to 1997 study period. These findings suggest cau se for concern as the largest integrated healthcare system in the United St ates undertakes major organizational change to meet present and future chal lenges.