SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Stressed and Distressed: Hospitalists' Perceptions of Stressors and Mitigation Strategies in Clinical Work

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This mixed-methods study examined stressors, coping strategies, and desired supports among hospitalists at an urban academic medical center, where 32% of faculty report weekly burnout symptoms. Researchers first conducted semi-structured interviews with 12 faculty members (58% men, 42% women; 1–30 years of experience) and coded responses to identify themes. They then created a 10-question survey that was sent to all 160 hospitalist faculty, with 62 responses (39% response rate).<br /><br />The main finding was that systemic barriers to patient care were the dominant source of stress and distress across experience levels. The most frequently reported issue was inadequate support for systems-related problems, cited by 67% of interviewees and 74% of survey respondents. Other common stressors included clinical volume, competing priorities, interpersonal conflict, lack of control, moral distress, and patient-related factors. Stressors varied somewhat by career stage: early-career faculty (0–1 years) most often cited clinical volume, while mid-career faculty (6–10 years) more often reported competing priorities.<br /><br />Faculty described several coping strategies, most commonly self-care activities (81%) and debriefing with colleagues (76%). When asked about helpful interventions, the most desired were communal workspaces and free, accessible food (both 51%). Early-career faculty also expressed interest in longitudinal small-group debriefing sessions.<br /><br />Overall, the study suggests that hospitalist burnout is driven more by organizational and workflow problems than by lack of individual resilience. The authors conclude that system-level interventions—rather than a sole focus on personal wellness—may be most effective in reducing distress and burnout among hospitalists.

Asset Subtitle

Maggie Jones

Meta Tag

Author List Aline Zorian, Maggie Jones, Rashmi Manjunath

Category Research

Concept Hospitalist

Concept Clinical Stress

Concept Burnout

Concept Distress

Concept Systems Issue

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization University of California, San Francisco

Presenting Author Maggie Jones

Track Other

Keywords

hospitalist burnout

systemic barriers

stressors

coping strategies

organizational interventions

patient care

moral distress

clinical volume

debriefing

workplace support

Hospitalist

Clinical Stress

Burnout

Distress

Systems Issue