VA physicians intent to leave and correlations to drivers of burnout: a cross-sectional study

The bottom line

In one of the largest workforce datasets available, specific fixable burnout drivers — not just overall burnout scores — predicted whether physicians intended to change jobs internally or leave the organization entirely. The practical message for leaders is to diagnose and act on named drivers rather than tracking a single burnout number. Findings come from the VA system and may transfer imperfectly to private practice.

What the source found

Large VA workforce study (n=16,363 respondents including physicians) modeling association between burnout drivers and intent to leave; found specific actionable burnout drivers (not just global scores) differentiate types of turnover intent (internal job change vs. leaving organization).

Limitations and applicability

VHA-specific workforce context; cross-sectional; internal-vs-external turnover distinction important for interpreting results.

Population and setting

Veterans Health Administration physicians and staff

Used in FairShare guides

• Retention and the Anesthesia Workforce

About this evidence

Research question / practical issue

How does this source inform Retention and the Anesthesia Workforce and Understanding Anesthesia Burnout for the population it studied?

Study design, evidence tier, and source class

Peer Reviewed Cross Sectional Survey · primary source · evidence tier 1

Source type: Peer Reviewed Cross Sectional Survey · primary · Evidence tier 1

Topics: Retention and the Anesthesia Workforce, Understanding Anesthesia Burnout

Audience: Department Leaders