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To evaluate the relationships between immediate supervisors' leadership qualities and the subsequent levels and changes in burnout and satisfaction of supervised physicians 2 years later.In 2015 and 2017 physicians were asked to complete surveys that included the 9-item Mayo Clinic Leadership Score (range, 9 to 45) assessing their supervisor, an item about satisfaction with the organization, and two items from the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Individual participants' responses to the surveys were linked.Among the 3698 physicians invited to complete both the 2015 and 2017 survey, 1795 (48.5%) responded. The mean composite baseline leadership score was 38.1 (SD, 8.4). Lower mean baseline leadership scores were reported by physicians who had burnout (mean [SD], 36.0 [9.7] vs 39.1 [7.3]; P.001) 2 years later in comparison to those who did not have burnout 2 years later. In multivariable analysis, higher baseline leadership score of supervisors was independently associated with lower odds of physicians having burnout 2 years later (for each 1-point increase, odds ratio, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.96 to 0.99; P=.002) after adjusting for burnout at baseline, age, gender, length of service, and specialty. Baseline composite leadership score of supervisors was also independently associated with physicians' satisfaction with the organization 2 years later (odds ratio, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.07; P.0001).Physicians' ratings of their immediate supervisors' leadership qualities were associated with their subsequent levels and changes in burnout and satisfaction 2 years later. Additional studies are needed to determine the effect of sharing such scores with immediate supervisors and providing additional leadership training to those with low scores, and if doing so ultimately reduces burnout and improves satisfaction of the supervised physicians.

Key Points Question Are burnout and professional satisfaction associated with changes in work effort among nonphysician health care workers (HCWs)? Findings In this cohort study of 26 280 nonphysician HCWs using administrative and payroll records, levels of burnout and satisfaction were associated with changes in work effort over the ensuing 24 months. Meaning These findings suggest that, given the critical importance of appropriate staffing and costs associated with hiring and training HCWs, efforts to mitigate burnout and increase professional satisfaction among HCWs should be part of workforce retention and cost reduction strategies., This cohort study examines the associations of burnout and professional satisfaction with changes in work effort among nonphysician health care workers., Importance Burnout is a pervasive, unrelenting problem among health care workers (HCWs), with detrimental impact to patients. Data on the impact of burnout on workforce staffing are limited and could help build a financial case for action to address system-level contributors to burnout. Objective To explore the association of burnout and professional satisfaction with changes in work effort over 24 months in a large cohort of nonphysician HCWs. Design, Setting, and Participants This longitudinal cohort study was conducted in Rochester, Minnesota; Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona; Jacksonville, Florida; and community-based hospitals and health care facilities in the Midwest among nonphysician HCWs who responded to 2 surveys from 2015 to 2017. Analysis was completed November 25, 2020. Exposures Burnout, as measured by 2 items from the Maslach Burnout Inventory, and professional satisfaction. Main Outcomes and Measures The main outcome was work effort, as measured in full-time equivalent (FTE) units, recorded in payroll records. Results Data from 26 280 responders (7293 individuals aged 45-54 years [27.8%]; 20 263 [77.1%] women) were analyzed. A total of 8115 individuals (30.9%) had worked for the organization more than 15 years, and 6595 individuals (25.1%) were nurses. After controlling for sex, age, duration of employment, job category, baseline FTE, and baseline burnout, overall burnout (odds ratio [OR], 1.53; 95% CI, 1.38-1.70; P

To explore the relationship between immediate supervisor leadership behaviors and burnout and professional satisfaction of health care employees.From October 2 to 20, 2017, we surveyed nonphysician health care employees. The survey included 2 items from the Maslach Burnout Inventory and items on their immediate supervisor leadership behaviors. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate the relationship between the leadership score and the prevalence of burnout and satisfaction after adjusting for age, sex, duration of employment, and job category. Sensitivity analysis was performed using mixed models with a random intercept for work unit to assess the impact of the correlation within work units on burnout and satisfaction with the organization.Of the 57,414 employees surveyed, 39,896 (69.5%) responded and answered the leadership questions. Supervisor scores in each dimension and composite leadership scores correlated with burnout and satisfaction of employees (P.001 for all). In logistic regression, each 1-point increase in leadership score was associated with a 7% decrease in odds of burnout and an 11% increase in odds of satisfaction (P.001 for both) of employees. The mean composite leadership score rating of each immediate supervisor correlated with rate of burnout (r=-0.247; P.001) and the satisfaction with the organization (r=0.416; P.001) at the work unit level.Leadership qualities of immediate supervisors relate to burnout and satisfaction of nonphysician health care employees working in a large organization. Further studies are needed to determine whether strategies to monitor and improve supervisor leadership scores result in reduction in burnout and improved satisfaction among health care employees.