A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Interventions to Manage Stress and Burnout in Physicians

Abstract

Objective: To assess interventions aimed at reducing stress and burnout among physicians. Materials and Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed in line with PRISMA guidelines. Randomized controlled trials published in English up to December 2022 were identified through searches in medical databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, and CINAHL. The primary outcomes were stress and burnout levels. Results: A total of 13 studies investigated interventions to reduce stress and burnout, including mindfulness and non-mindfulness-based approaches. Non-mindfulness interventions included professional coaching, group-coaching programs, and training in humanism and professionalism. Outcomes were assessed at two time points: immediately post-intervention and at the final follow-up. Stress-reduction interventions significantly decreased stress levels (Hedges’ g = -0.20, 95% CI: -0.37 to -0.02, p = 0.03; I² = 6.66%). In contrast, burnout-reduction interventions showed a non-significant trend toward improvement (Hedges’ g = -0.08, 95% CI: -0.32 to 0.17, p = 0.53; I² = 43.89%). Conclusion: Stress-reduction interventions are effective in lowering stress among physicians. However, improvements in burnout remain limited, possibly due to variations in intervention effectiveness across studies. Further research should focus on long-term follow-ups to address well-being and resilience of healthcare professionals.